Directors

The Board of Directors of Bank of Ireland Group plc

The Court of Directors of The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland

  • Patrick Kennedy – Chair and Governor

    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    Appointed Independent Non-Executive Director in July 2010 and Chair in August 2018

    Committee Membership

    • Chair of the Nomination & Governance Committee
    • Member of Group Transformation Oversight Committee

    Experience

    Patrick is a Chartered Accountant with a successful track record spanning 30 years across a range of domestic and international businesses. Prior to joining Bank of Ireland, Patrick served as Chief Executive Officer of Paddy Power plc and also held executive and non-executive roles in that company. Before this, Patrick held the position of CFO at Greencore Group plc and also worked in various senior strategic and corporate development roles. He has previously held roles with KPMG Corporate Finance in Ireland and the Netherlands, with McKinsey & Company in London, Dublin and Amsterdam, and as a Non-Executive Director of Elan Corporation plc and ASOS plc. He is currently Chair and Non-Executive Director of CarTrawler. Patrick holds the role of Honorary Treasurer of the Irish Rugby Football Union and is a Patron of Chapter Zero Ireland.

  • Giles Andrews – Independent Non-Executive Director

    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    • Appointed Independent Non-Executive Director in November 2020
    • Appointed Chair of the Group Transformation Oversight Committee in March 2023

    Committee Membership

    • Chair of the Group Transformation Oversight Committee
    • Member of the Remuneration Committee, the Risk Committee, and the Sustainability Committee

    Experience

    Giles possesses in-depth experience in financial technology, investment, and lending, in addition to strong management experience. He received a Master’s Degree in Experimental Psychology from Christ Church at Oxford University and an MBA from INSEAD. Prior to joining Bank of Ireland, Giles co-founded Zopa, the first ever online peer-to-peer lending marketplace. In 2020, Zopa also launched a Digital Bank. Giles held a number of senior positions with Zopa including Chief Executive Officer and Chairman. He currently remains a member of Zopa Group Board and Zopa Bank Board. He was previously NonExecutive Director of Market Finance Limited, a FinTech platform that provides working capital finance to small businesses in the UK. Giles serves as a Non-Executive Director and Chairman on the board of Carwow Limited, a platform for buying new cars from franchised dealers. Most recently, he was appointed as an Independent Non-Executive Director of C. Hoare & Co, the UK’s oldest privately owned bank. Giles was awarded an OBE in 2015 for his services to financial services. In 2016, Giles was named FinTech leader of the year at the FinTech Innovation Awards. At present, he is an Advisor to the fund at Northzone Ventures, a venture capital fund.

  • Evelyn Bourke – Independent Non-Executive Director

    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    • Appointed Independent Non-Executive Director in May 2018
    • Appointed Chair of the Audit Committee in January 2021

    Committee Membership

    • Chair of the Audit Committee
    • Member of the Nomination Committee, Risk Committee and the Sustainability Committee

    Experience

    Evelyn has a strong track record in global executive management, including extensive experience in financial services, risk and capital management, and mergers and acquisitions. She is a Fellow of the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries and received an MBA from the London Business School. Previously, Evelyn served as Group Chief Executive Officer of Bupa, the international health insurance and health care group. She joined Bupa as Chief Financial Officer from Friends Life Group, where she had been the Chief Executive Officer of the Heritage
    Division. She served as Non-Executive Director with IFG plc, Dublin, where she chaired the Risk Committee. Evelyn’s early career was spent in the UK at Standard Life plc, Chase de Vere Financial Solutions, St. James’s Place plc, Nascent Group, Tillinghast Towers Perrin and in Ireland with Bank of Ireland and New Ireland Assurance. Currently, Evelyn is a Non-Executive Director and Senior Independent Director with AJ Bell plc and a member of its Audit, Nomination, Risk and Compliance committees. She is a Non-Executive Director with Marks and Spencer Group plc, chairs the Audit Committee and is a member of the Nomination Committee. Evelyn is a Non-Executive Director of Admiral Group plc and Chair of its Remuneration Committee. She also holds roles as a Non-Executive Director on the Ireland Fund of Great Britain Board and a member of The Investment Committee of The Athenaeum Club.

  • Ian Buchanan – Independent Non-Executive Director
    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    • Appointed Independent Non-Executive Director in May 2018
    • Appointed Non-Executive Director of Bank of Ireland (UK) plc in September 2018

    Committee Membership

    • Member of the Group Transformation Oversight Committee, Risk Committee and Remuneration Committee
    • Member of the Risk Committee and Remuneration Committee of the Bank of Ireland (UK) plc

    Experience

    Ian possesses diverse experience in the areas of technology, digital, business transformation and customer operations gained through his work in a number of international retail, commercial and investment banks. Ian holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from the University of Durham. Prior to his role in Bank of Ireland, Ian held the roles of Group Chief Information Officer for Barclays plc and Chief Operating Officer for Barclaycard. Previously, he was Chief Information Officer for Société Générale Corporate & Investment Banking. He was a member of the Public Board and Group Manufacturing Director of Alliance & Leicester plc. He is a former member of the Executive Committee of Nomura International and was Chief Operations and Technology Officer of Nomura International. Ian’s early career wasspent at Credit Suisse,Guinness, and BP. Ian is a Senior Advisor to Cerberus Capital Management.

  • Eileen Fitzpatrick – Independent Non-Executive Director

    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    • Appointed Independent Non-Executive Director in May 2019
    • Appointed Workforce Engagement Director in January 2020
    • Appointed Trustee of the Bank Staff Pension Fund in January 2021
    • Appointed Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Risk and Compliance Committee of J & E Davy in June 2022

    Committee Membership

    • Member of the Audit Committee, Nomination & Governance Committee, Remuneration Committee and Sustainability Committee
    • Chair of the Risk & Compliance Committee of J & E Davy

    Experience

    Eileen, a Capital Markets professional, has extensive experience at Senior Executive, Board and Governmental level in financial markets. She received a PhD in Science from University College Dublin. Prior to joining Bank of Ireland, Eileen held multiple Senior Director positions, including as Chief Executive Officer of AIB Investment Managers and Director of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), where she oversaw the Alternative Assets Investment Programme, for the National Pensions Reserve Fund. Subsequently, she was appointed Director of NewERA at the NTMA. In her early career, Eileen also held a number of roles in stockbroking including in Goodbody Stockbrokers and National City Brokers. Eileen also served as Chair of the Outside Appointments Board-Department of Public Expenditure and Reform and she was a member of Loreto Generalate Financial Advisory Committee for the Loreto Congregation. Eileen is a Non-Executive Director with a number of KKR companies in Ireland and serves as Chair of the Remuneration Committee for KKR Credit Advisors (Ireland). Most recently, Eileen joined the board of Sherry FitzGerald Group Ireland Holdings Limited as a Non-Executive Director and, in addition, serves as Chair of the People and Culture Committee there.

  • Richard Goulding – Deputy Chair, Deputy Governor and Senior Independent Director

    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    • Appointed Independent Non-Executive Director in July 2017
    • Appointed Chair of the Risk Committee in August 2018
    • Appointed Deputy Chair/Deputy Governor and Senior Independent Director in January 2021
    • Appointed Trustee of the Bank Staff Pension Fund in January 2021
    • Appointed Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Remuneration Committee of J & E Davy in June 2022

    Committee Membership

    • Chair of the Risk Committee
    • Member of the Audit Committee, the Nomination & Governance Committee and the Group Transformation Oversight Committee
    • Chair of the Remuneration Committee of J & E Davy

    Experience

    Richard is a Chartered Accountant with an extensive international track record of risk management and executive experience. Prior to joining Bank of Ireland, Richard held the role of Group Chief Risk Officer and Director at Standard Chartered Bank, where he was a member of the Group Executive Committee, having previously held the role of Chief Operating Officer, Wholesale Banking Division. Richard is a former Director of Citigroup Global Markets Limited where he served as Chair of its Audit, Remuneration and Nomination committees. He previously held senior executive positions with Old Mutual Financial Services in the U.S., UBS Warburg / SBC Warburg in London and Switzerland, Astra Holding plc, Bankers Trust Company, and the Midland Bank Group. He holds Non-Executive Director positions in Zopa Group Limited and Zopa Bank Limited. Richard is a member of Council and Chair of the Finance and General Purposes Committee in the Royal College of Music. He also is a member of the Business Strategy Committee in the Global Risk Institute.

  • Michele Greene – Independent Non-Executive Director

    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    • Appointed Non-Executive Director in December 2019
    • Appointed Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Nomination Committee of J & E Davy in June 2022

    Committee Membership

    • Member of Audit Committee, Risk Committee, Group Transformation Oversight Committee, and Group Sustainability Committee
    • Chair of the Nomination Committee of J & E Davy

    Experience

    Michele is a Chartered Accountant and an experienced business executive and finance professional, operating at executive management and board level. She received a BSc (Mgmt) and MA from Trinity College Dublin. Prior to joining Bank of Ireland, Michele held several senior roles with Virgin Money’s Digital Bank, including Managing Director, prior to which she was Director of Strategic Development, responsible for the bank’s future development. Michele joined Virgin Money, initially, as Director of Banking, with responsibility for building the bank’s new credit card business. She also served as Chief Financial Officer of MBNA Europe, where she held executive positions on the board of MBNA Europe Limited and Premium Credit Finance Limited. Michele’s early career was spent at Goldman Sachs, Credit Lyonnais and KPMG. Michele is currently an Executive Director of Mololo Limited and a Non-Executive Director of East End Fair Finance Limited and Vanquis Banking Group plc.

  • Myles O’Grady – Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director
    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    Appointed Group Chief Executive and Executive Director in November 2022

    Experience

    Myles is a highly experienced leader with excellent delivery capabilities. He has extensive local market knowledge and deep experience of working with a range of stakeholders including customers, colleagues, investors and regulatory authorities. His experience encompasses strategy development, business restructuring and recovery, M&A, organisational transformation and investor relations. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Myles has worked nationally and internationally in senior roles in retail, business and investment banking, including Citibank, AIB and Dresdner Kleinwort Benson. Myles was appointed BOI Group Chief Financial Officer in 2019 and was also appointed Group Non-Executive Director of Bank of Ireland (UK) plc and New Ireland Life Assurance Company plc. As Group Chief Financial Officer, Myles played an integral role in the development and execution of the Group’s strategy, including the successful acquisitions of Davy and the KBC Ireland portfolios. Myles is a Fellow of the Chartered Association of Certified Accountants, an INSEAD certified board director and a member of the Institute of Directors Ireland.

  • Steve Pateman – Independent Non-Executive Director

    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    • Appointed Independent Non-Executive Director in September 2018
    • Appointed Chair of the Remuneration Committee in January 2020

    Committee Membership

    • Chair of the Remuneration Committee
    • Member of the Audit Committee and Risk Committee

    Experience

    Steve is an experienced banker, advisor and Board Director, with a strong track record of building and rebuilding businesses. Prior to joining Bank of Ireland, Steve was the Chief Executive Officer of Shawbrook Bank and, subsequently, of Hodge Group. Steve chaired the Advisory Board of Arora Group and served as Chief Executive Officer. Previously, he worked with Santander UK, where he held the roles of Executive Director and Head of UK Banking with responsibility for Santander’s corporate, commercial, business and retail banking operations, as well as wealth management. Steve held several senior positions at Royal Bank of Scotland and NatWest and was a Director of The Mortgage Lender Limited. Steve was elected President of the Chartered Banker Institute, having previously served as a Vice President and Senior Vice President. He was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Kent for services to banking. He is currently Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director of StreamBank plc. Steve also holds the role of Non-Executive Director for Affordable Housing & Healthcare Investment Management Limited.

  • Mark Spain – Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director

    Bank of Ireland Role Appointments

    • Appointed Group Chief Financial Officer and Executive Director in March 2022
    • Appointed Group Non-Executive Director of Bank of Ireland (UK) plc in December 2019

    Experience

    Mark is a strategically adept leader, with a track record of leading multi-functional teams to successfully deliver significant and positive commercial outcomes, with particular expertise in commercial analysis and decision making, financial control, finance function operations, people leadership, M&A, ESG, multi-stakeholder engagement and investor relations. Mark has over 25 years’ experience as a finance professional, having qualified as a chartered accountant in 1994. He joined the Group in 1998 as a Director in IBI Corporate Finance, an M&A advisory boutique. He became Director of Group Investor Relations in 2013, followed by Director of Group Finance in 2016. In 2019, he was appointed Chief Strategy Officer and member of the Group Executive Committee. Prior to joining the Group, Mark worked in Diageo plc’s M&A team and KPMG. Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) Degree and a diploma in Professional Accounting from University College Dublin. He is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.

  • Margaret Sweeney – Independent Non-Executive Director