With 40,000 members and 8,600 students, Chartered Accountants Ireland is the largest professional body on the island of Ireland with a global footprint spanning 100 countries. In each issue, we are pleased to bring you a round-up of new and notable appointments among members in business, practice public service, academia and not-for-profit.

Chadwicks Group has announced the appointment of Billy Browne as Managing Director of HSS Hire Ireland. Browne joins from PERI Ireland, where he was Managing Director. Before that, he held senior roles with Hilti Group, including Commercial Director for Hilti Ireland.

Aylwyn Bryan is the new Chief Financial Officer at building materials provider CRH. Bryan has over 25 years’ financial leadership experience, including the past 14 years with CRH, most recently serving as CFO of the CRH Americas Division.

Carrolls Irish Gifts has announced a new Group Chief Financial Officer. Steven Connolly joined the retail group in 2019 as Finance Director. Prior to that, he was Chief Financial Officer with Sam McCauley Chemists.

Sinead Fitzmaurice has joined Aperture Capital, the Swiss-based venture capital firm, as an operating partner. Fitzmaurice previously served as Chief Executive of TransferMate Global Payments. She is director of Fitzmaurice Finance and founder of Ryan Capital Group.

Storm Technology has promoted Conor Flanagan to the position of Practice Director, Dynamics 365 Business Central. Flanagan joined the company in 2020 as a financial reporting consultant and later became Enterprise Resource Planning Team Lead.

The Board of Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) Ireland has appointed Niall Miller as the charity’s newest trustee. Miller is Vice President, Commercial Aviation, with Minsheng Financial Leasing.

Sumer NI has announced the appointment of Karen Mitchell as a partner within its Corporate Audit team. Mitchell brings more than 20 years’ experience in corporate statutory and internal audit engagements.

Fiona Muldoon has been appointed to the board of Grainger plc in the UK as a non-executive director. Muldoon has 30 years’ experience in the insurance industry and was formerly Chief Executive of FBD Holdings plc in Ireland.

Stephen McQuaid is joining Walkers Professional Services as Vice President. McQuaid previously held senior roles at Apex Group, Grant Thornton Ireland and Citco Group, where he was responsible for the delivery and management of corporate and structured finance services.

Ray O’Driscoll is the new Chief Executive of Shannon Airport Group. O’Driscoll has been serving as interim CEO of Shannon Airport Group since September 2025. He joined the group in 2014 as Managing Director of Shannon Commercial Enterprises.

Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, James Browne, TD, has appointed Eoin O’Lideadha to the Board of The Housing Agency. O’Lideadha is a former partner at Deloitte and KPMG, with over 30 years’ experience in finance.

HLB Ireland has appointed Jack Sheehan as a partner in its audit and assurance practice. Sheehan joined the firm in 2024 as an Audit Director and subsequently became Technology Sector Lead in early 2025.

Deborah Somorin has joined data strategy consultancy The Information Lab as Director of Data and Artificial Intelligence. Somorin was formerly a senior manager with EY Ireland and founded not-for-profit Empower the Family in 2018.