Press release
Minister Ryan appoints Chairperson and Directors to An Post
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications
Published on
Last updated on
The Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan, has announced the appointment of Mr Kieran Mulvey as Chairperson Designate of the Board of An Post, following an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service. The Minister also welcomed the appointment of two Non-Executive Directors to the Board of An Post, Ms Eleanor O’Neill and Mr John O’Grady, each for a term of five years.
Commenting on the appointments, Minister Ryan said:
"I recognise the long experience and wide achievement Kieran brings to this key role of Chairperson, including his many years as Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Commission and later as Director General of the Workplace Relations Commission. More recently he has given able service as a Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director with An Post. The organisation has been undergoing a period of change and challenge. I am confident that Kieran’s mature guidance and stewardship will help An Post continue to respond adequately to the challenges and the opportunities before it. He will ensure a strategic focus is maintained to addressing these, and lead An Post’s Board in proactively engaging with senior management, employees, Government, its customers and the wider community."
The Minister added:
"I am also very pleased to be appointing Ms O’Neill and Mr O’Grady to the Board of An Post. They bring a range of skills and expertise to the Board which will ensure An Post is as well-equipped as possible to deliver on its objectives over the next number of years."
The Minister thanked and acknowledged the significant contribution of the former Chairperson, Carol Bolger, who retired from the Board in April.
Welcoming the appointment of Mr Mulvey, Minister of State with responsibility for Postal Policy, James Lawless, said:
"Kieran will play a critical role leading An Post as it continues its transformation as a business, that meets customers' needs for reliable and affordable postal services and a sustainable post office network, while also evolving to be an eCommerce and financial services provider. His experience and ability will be hugely valuable in helping An Post navigate a challenging commercial environment. I look forward to working closely with him to help the company meet its competitive challenges and deliver on its strategic aims."
ENDS
The appointment was made using the Public Appointments Service (PAS) selection process, in accordance with the ‘Guidelines for Appointments to State Boards’, which were published by the government in November 2014.
Arrangements will be made for Mr Mulvey to appear before the Oireachtas Committee on Transport and Communications in line with revised government procedures for proposed Chairpersons of State Boards. The title 'Chairperson Designate' will apply until that time.
Kieran Mulvey has extensive experience both in the private sector as well as across a range of Government bodies and agencies. He has had over 25 years of involvement in major reorganisation, restructuring and change management issues in Irish industrial relations, covering both the private and public sector including many State enterprises/services. Mr Mulvey has chaired national pay review bodies and arbitration boards, and from 2010 to 2015 chaired three critical Public Service Agreements (Croke Park, Haddington Road and Lansdowne Road). He was appointed the first Just Transition Commissioner for the Midlands by the Government from 2019 to 2023 and produced four major reports on recommendations for the region.
Previously, Mr Mulvey served as General Secretary of two trade unions in Ireland – University/Secondary Teachers (1975-1991) and was an Executive member of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (1975-1991).
He has undertaken various international assignments with the International Labour Organisation, the European Union, and The European Foundation for Living and Working, on matters relating to social dialogue, institution formation, and economic development.
Mr Mulvey is a graduate of University College Dublin (UCD) and holds postgraduate qualifications in Education and Law. A Fellow of the Educational Institute of Scotland, he holds Honorary Doctorates of Laws from the National University of Ireland and UCD and is an Honorary Fellow of the Employment Law Association. He was also conferred with the first Honorary Fellowship of the Chartered Institute of Personal Development (CIPD).
Mr Mulvey's appointment is effective from 19 July 2024 for a term of five years.
John O’Grady is a Chartered Accountant and an experienced insurance executive. He served as Chief Financial Officer with FBD from 2016 to 2023.
Eleanor O’Neill is an experienced Senior Executive in technology multinationals, including Symantec from 2003 to 2020. She has served as a Non-Executive Director on a number of State Boards including the National Transport Authority and Coillte.