Barry Whelan

Barry Whelan (BABS) is the founder, CEO and owner of The Excel Recruitment Group (incorporating Stelfox IT recruitment), one of Ireland’s leading recruitment agencies. The Excel Recruitment group employs over 110 professionals across 5 locations in Ireland and 1 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. The Business services 2000 clients and deploys a temporary workforce of over 8000 staff across the Healthcare, Hospitality, Retail, Industrial and IT sectors.

Under Barry’s leadership, Excel, established in 2002, has grown from a niche retail specialist, into a large multinational, multisectoral recruitment leader.

Beyond his role at Excel & Stelfox, Barry is a prominent figure in the business community, widely recognised for his contributions to advancing workplace practices. He often shares his expertise in leading media outlets such as The Irish Times, The Independent, and Newstalk Radio, providing insights, trends, and solutions to address industry challenges. His extensive knowledge across many sectors and topics makes him a valuable asset to the Labour Market Advisory Council.