Leadership in Times of Uncertainty | Expert Insights with Gary McGann

Caroline Spillane CDir, Chief Executive Officer of IoD Ireland, set the stage with a warm welcome, emphasising the event's theme, "Managing in Uncertainty." Held on the evening of 19th March 2025 at the prestigious Westbury Hotel, Dublin 2. The event was an in-conversation with renowned Chair and Non-Executive Director, Gary McGann, and IoD Ireland President and Chartered Director John Reynolds CDir. The special event brought together Chartered Director Alumni for a thought-provoking exchange of ideas and experiences.

During the course of the discussion, Gary McGann and John Reynolds explored critical themes such as corporate transformation, strategy development and ownership, corporate values and mission, and Ireland's evolving economic landscape.

Drawing from his extensive executive and boardroom experience, Gary illustrated key insights with real-world examples from his leadership roles at Ericsson Ireland, Aer Lingus, Smurfit Kappa Group, and Flutter. He underscored the essential qualities of effective leadership - clarity, focus, drive, and resilience - while stressing the pivotal role of communication. Gary also provided a compelling perspective on the role of the board, asserting that "a really good board is probably the cheapest set of consultants an executive can ever get."

Gary McGann commented during the discussion:

I have a view that a really good board is probably the cheapest set of consultants an executive can ever get. 

The conversation also delved into the future of ESG, the importance of diversity and inclusion, the evolving skill set required for board members, and the impact of digital innovation on corporate governance.

The event concluded with a closing address from Caroline Spillane CDir, who highlighted a suite of resources designed to support attendees in their continuous professional development. These included the newly introduced workshop, "Corporate Governance in Practice," led by seasoned Chair and Non-Executive Director Jim Breslin, along with upcoming IoD events and the IoD Director Development Toolkit.

This exclusive Chartered Director Programme Alumni Event was open to IoD Ireland members who are current or past participants of the programme, including accredited Chartered Directors. It provided a unique opportunity for Ireland’s top directors to gain invaluable insights from one of the most respected figures in corporate governance.

Gary McGann Bio

Gary McGann has extensive experience as both an executive and non-executive director. He currently serves as chair at the privately owned Sicon Ltd (Sisk Group) and Aon Investment Holdings Ireland Ltd, the Irish arm of Aon Plc, a leading global professional services group. Gary also chairs the Luxembourg quoted Polish and CEE online marketplace Allegro.eu SA and in the Not for Profit sector he chairs The Ireland Funds in Ireland and is a director of Barnardos. Gary is also a Senior Advisor and Chairman of Teneo’s Ireland Advisory Board. Prior to these appointments, Gary was Director and Chair of Flutter Plc, whose enterprise value grew from €1Bn to €30Bn during his tenure (2014-2023). Gary has also held various senior executive roles, including CEO of Smurfit Kappa Group Plc and Aer Lingus. Before his time at Aer Lingus, Gary served as CEO at Grand Met Finance and Gilbeys of Ireland. Prior to that, he was a Group Financial Controller at Ericsson Ireland and an Auditor at the Comptroller and Auditor General’s office.