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Sweetspot Celebrate 10 Years in Business
CHAMBER COMMITTEE PROFILE
LUKE HANAHOE
Luke is the President of County Kildare Chamber and the Managing Partner of Hanahoe & Hanahoe Solicitors. Luke has been a member of County Kildare Chamber for 11 years and was honoured to be elected as President 2019. Luke has also been a solicitor in Hanahoe and Hanahoe for the last 11 years and has been managing partner for the last five. Hanahoe and Hanahoe is a general practice law firm, with a particular emphasis on property law and commercial litigation. Hanahoe & Hanahoe operate offices in Naas & Dublin, with their primary office located at 16 North Main Street, Naas. Luke is always delighted to be involved with any Chamber initiative, but is particularly excited by the Policy Advisory Council and working with some of the most influential business leaders in the county . Luke acts for a number of Developers and Builders and as such he as a keen interest in the Local Area Plan, the County Development Plan and any other policy initiative effecting the county. Luke is married to Kate and has two boys, Charlie and Elliott. He is born and bred in Naas and has finally persuaded his wife after 11 long years to move from Dublin. Luke is also an avid rugby fan, whose happiness can sometimes be irrationally attached to the fortunes of Ireland and Leinster.
RONAN TWOHIG
Ronan commenced his Business Career in Financial Services with Sedgewick Dineen Insurance Brokers and spent a number of years there before he progressed to Bank of Ireland. Here, Ronan worked with a small project team to launch the first Bank Life Assurance Company in Ireland which was named Lifetime Assurance Company. Ronan then moved to A.I.B. who had plans to launch their own Life Assurance Company which they later named ARK Life Assurance Company.
Ronan has also since worked for brokerage Company ‘House of Finance’ where he remained for six years in a Business Development role and The Gannon Group as Business Development Director. In 2021, Ronan joined H.T.H. Accountants as their Chairman and is looking forward to working with the team there into the future.
Ronan joined County Kildare Chamber in 2011 and has served on the Board for the last six years.
PAUL KEOGH
Paul Keogh has worked for a number of prominent International entrepreneurial business-owning families in senior management positions. He has worked in a diverse range of industries from alcoholic beverages, the music business, construction equipment and property development.
He has also worked throughout the world having been based in the UK, USA, Australia, France, South America, and Ireland. Paul now puts this experience to use as a practitioner in advising family businesses, specialising in family governance, business planning, leadership development and secession planning.
Paul has recently written a practical guide to help family businesses called “The Family Business Book” which was published on February 3rd.
MAIREAD HENNESSEY
Mairead is Vice President of County Kildare Chamber. She represents the Chamber on the Kildare Local Community and Development Committee (LCDC) and the International Chamber of Commerce Commission on Taxation. Mairéad is a member of the Chamber’s Policy Advisory Council.
Mairéad is the owner of Taxkey, a specialist tax practice that provides SMEs with proactive and practical tax advice on matters such as retirement planning business succession, company sales and property transactions. Mairéad is a member of TALC (Indirect Tax) which is the main forum for tax advisors to make representations to the Irish Revenue.
Mairéad is a director of Terra NutriTECH, an award winning agtech company based in South Kildare, and treasurer of Rare Diseases Ireland.
KEITH TRAYNOR
Keith is currently the Treasurer of County Kildare Chamber and has been a member of the Committee for a number of years. He is also a member of the Chamber’s Audit and Remuneration Committee.
Keith is the owner of Keith Traynor Accountants, Certified Public Accountants, Statutory Auditors and Business Consultants, a practice he founded over 20 years ago. They are an international award-winning accountancy practice based in Kilcock and focus on driving efficiencies within businesses and using online accounting systems their services are focused on real-time insights, integrated systems and data driven decisions.
ADRIAN MOONEY
Adrian Mooney has over 20 years commercial/ sales experience having worked for The Football Association of Ireland, The Curragh Racecourse and The K Club in senior sales roles.
Adrian is currently Director of Sales at Kilkea Castle Hotel & Golf Resort, Leinster’s premier Castle Hotel and leads the sales team as the business expands, in a post-pandemic environment. The role is multi-faceted and encompasses marketing, revenue management and PR whilst he also maintains key stakeholder relationships with Failte Ireland & Tourism Ireland, amongst others.
With his colleagues on the senior leadership team at Kilkea, he looks forward to a stellar year for the property since it was re-imagined and opened its doors in early 2018. Now encompassing 140 bedrooms, a stunning boutique spa and championship golf course the property is set fair for 2022 and beyond.
MARY FENNIN
Mary is an experienced Hotel professional and a busy mother of four, she holds a BA in Hotel Management and during lockdown completed many associated courses through Shannon School of Hotel Management and Cornell University.
Mary spent many years travelling where she gained valuable international hotel experience before returning home to settle in Ireland. Mary opened the Clanard Court Hotel, a family business in 2005 having seen a gap in the market and has developed it over the years to become an award-winning wedding venue with a thriving Leisure and Food and Beverage business. Mary has a passion for interior design and loves to get stuck into a new project, she recently oversaw the interior fit out of a new Bedroom Block, Spa and Bar.
EVEN ARKWRIGHT
Evan is currently employed by The Curragh as Racing and Sponsorship Manager, having worked at the racecourse since 2002. As Sponsorship Manager, Evan is responsible for all sponsorships, sourcing and managing over 60 national and international sponsors and partners representing a variety of business categories.
Previously to joining The Curragh, Evan was employed as Commercial Manager with Weatherbys Ireland in Naas and before that, he was based in the United Arab Emirates working for the Emirates Racing Association and Dubai Racing Club.
Evan lives near Rathangan with his wife and three children.
PAT SUTTON
Pat Sutton is the managing partner O’KellySutton Chartered Accountants, Auditors, Chartered Tax Advisors and Business Consultants, a firm he founded over 27 years ago.
He leads a team of 20 professional staff from their headquarters in Kildare Town. Pat has lectured extensively in Financial Management and Auditing and is a qualified Business Trainer with Maynooth University. He is a member of the Revenue Commissioners panel of experts for valuation of private companies. He is an Enterprise Ireland appointed Business Advisory Consultant. O’KellySutton is a member of Xeinadin, an expert network of Accountants in Ireland and UK.
JOHN HURLEY
John has over 25 years experience in operations leadership and is self employed. As an operation manager he has worked across the financial, legal and software development industries. John has extensive experience in all aspects of Credit Control and is currently contracted to a Property Management Company in a Finance role.
He is also a Director of North Kildare Leisure Company which runs a DSP Community Employment Scheme in Maynooth, Kilcock, Rathcoffey area.
Away from work John who lives in Maynooth is heavily involved in North Kildare Rugby Club. He is married to Hilary and has two adult children Kate and Jack.
BRIAN PURCELL
Brian Purcell is the owner/founder of Big Picture Communications and has over 25 years experience as one of Ireland’s foremost PR and Media Relations consultants.
He devises and implements communications plans for global plc’s, commercial semi-states, large private companies and SMEs and is extremely well connected in the Irish media sector at a senior level and he has worked with and media-trained many leading Irish business leaders, broadcasters and politicians.
Brian has worked with companies such as Glen Dimplex, VitHit Drinks, UPMC, Aldi, Tattersalls, Curragh and Fairyhouse Racecourses, Ladbrokes, Choice & Clarion Hotels, Epic Museum, Irish National Stud, Lottoland, Nua Healthcare, Irish Red Cross, Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists, Clark Recruitment, Superpedestrian, Clongowes College, Cistercian College Roscrea and the County Kildare Chamber.
LINDA GILL RYAN
Essential Health and Safety was established by Linda Gill Ryan in 2009. Linda along with her team of safety advisors and trainers assist business owners and their employees manage their health and safety compliance obligations on a day-to-day basis.
Workings include the drafting of Safety Statements, Risk Assessments, and associated Policy documents. Health and Safety Training is also a service Linda can assist with noting examples as Manual Handling Training and First Aid Training delivered in person and on a virtual platform. Working alongside Linda and the team at Essential Health and Safety Training and Consultancy will allow you peace of mind knowing that your legal obligations are being addressed and compliance is thus in order.
RAY CUNNIFFE - Jigsaw Better Business
Jigsaw Better Business welcome Ray Cunniffe as our new Head of Digital Transformation. Ray is qualified in software design and development and has an Executive MBA, which allows him understand the business needs of digital tools. Ray will be responsible for assisting our clients to re-imagine their business and map out their digital roadmap which complements their underlying business strategy.
Ray is looking forward to working in partnership with our clients and understands that “For some, Digital Transformation is bringing robotic automation to your factory floor. For others it is having bots answer FAQ’s or even Lead Forensics on your website. For many though, it’s moving from docket books to software systems, maybe even replacing that shoebox full of receipts with a simple expense tracking app”. Overall, he enjoys introducing often simple technology to improve our business processes, making better use of the data we have, finding new revenue streams for our business, and improving the customer experience.
HTH Accountants and Business Advisors are pleased to announce that Ronan Twohig has been appointed as Chairman of the Company. Ronan has extensive Business experience over many years in Banking, Financial Services and Distribution. Ronan presently serves on the board of County Kildare Chamber.
LOUISE GARGAN – Schneider Electric
Schneider Electric have announced the appointment of Louise Gargan as Life Science Key Client Account Manager for Ireland with responsibility for major Pharma and MedTech clients. A NUI Maynooth Music and Geography graduate, Louise lives in Co. Meath. She has previously held senior commercial roles across EMEA in MedTech and Pharma consultancy and brings this experience to Schneider as it continues to drive electrification and digitisation as inseparable and critical paths to achieving sustainability. With customer experience at the fore Louise also has a keen interest in how data and analytics can accelerate efficiencies across the Life Science segment.
LESLEY MAC CORMAIC - Malone & Co.
Malone & Co are delighted to announce the appointment of Lesley Mac Cormaic as Director of Client Services. Lesley will be responsible for the development and management of one of our teams ensuring the consistent delivery of quality service and advice to a large portfolio of local and international businesses.
A fellow of the Association of Certified Public Accountants of Ireland, Lesley has a wealth of experience in dealing with a diverse range of owner managed companies, professional firms, regulated entries and the notfor-profit sector. She prides herself on her excellent client relationships skills and her “can do” attitude.
PUBLIC AFFAIRS
Manager Profile
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Sinéad Ronan as our new Public Affairs Manager. Sinéad has been in the role since January 2022 and has over the last number of weeks been meeting a number of our stakeholders and members.
Sinéad was the Parliamentary Assistant to Minster for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence, Simon Coveney TD who is also Deputy Leader of Fine Gael for the past 6 years. Sinead’s time in this role has provided her with an immense understand of the issues directly affecting businesses, and regions at a Local and National level.
Sinead’s vast political experience coupled with her knowledge in regard to Local Government, National Governmental, Economic, Foreign Affairs and Environment policies such as the UN Sustainability Development Goals will enable and expand the expertise, extensive lobbying and representation currently provided by the Chamber. “I am really excited to be taking on this role. I understand the challenges faced by businesses and communities currently, and I am looking forward to meeting and working with the members, to promote Kildare and the region as a leading place to do business.”
“My immediate priorities are the upcoming County Development Plan, which needs the engagement and attention of Kildare Chamber, as this plan is critical for the future proofing of Kildare. Engagement with both National and Local Government going forward will to be increased, and representation with all of the region’s stakeholders will be further enhanced. The UN Sustainability Development Goals are becoming an ever-present part of business life and need to be promoted and ingrained into modern day industry.”
Businesses are constantly challenged with new legislation, the complications with Brexit and of course with the Covid pandemic. Sinéad will be on hand to support and assist our membership as they navigate, survive, and thrive through an everchanging business environment. Allan Shine, CEO of County Kildare Chamber said;
“We are delighted to welcome Sinead to the team at a time that the Chamber continues to increase its membership. We will leverage her wealth of experience in public affairs and with our extensive policy and lobbying work, County Kildare Chamber is committed to representing its members on key business issues in the economic debates at home and in Europe. Public Affairs has a key role to play in this regard by ensuring that we fully maximise our potential by aligning our communications and public affairs strategy with our business objectives, to enhance our effectiveness and the services we deliver to our membership. Locally, we are now further resourced to support our members with effective engagement with all key stakeholders in the region.”
