Chief Executive Officer Appointment

Chief Executive Officer Appointment

Role: Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Basis: Full-time, three year fixed-term executive appointment, with the possibility of renewal. Hybrid Working Role (Dublin based & remote working).

This is a distinctive opportunity to lead the representative body for one of Ireland’s most important international financial services sectors at a time of continued change, opportunity and global competition. The successful candidate will provide visible, strategic and values-led leadership for the Association, working with members, the elected Council, the Board, policymakers, regulators and international stakeholders to strengthen Ireland’s position as a leading funds and asset management centre.

The rotational nature of the appointment is intended to keep it agile with each term allowing the candidate to have personal impact while continuously evolving and driving the core tenets of the strategy.

Who we are

The Association is the representative body for the funds and asset management industry in Ireland, advocating for the sector at home and internationally and supporting Ireland’s continued development as a leading global funds and asset management centre.

The sector is a globally significant and strategically important part of Ireland’s international financial services ecosystem. The Association serves a broad and sophisticated membership of approximately 150 companies, including asset managers, administrators, depositaries, professional advisory firms, consulting firms and technology providers.

With a team of approximately 25 across Dublin and Brussels, the Association is a lean, agile and high-impact organisation. It works closely with members, the elected Council, the Board, policymakers, regulators, legislators and international stakeholders to support the competitiveness, reputation and long-term development of the sector.

Our Mission

We are the voice of the funds and asset management industry in Ireland.

Our Vision

Ireland will be the premier location to enable and support global investing through its reputation for trust, capability, and innovation.

Our Values

• Collaboration to succeed together and in working with others.

• Commitment to achieving better outcomes for investors.

• Dedication to member interests.

• Excellence in delivering and enhancing our capabilities.

• Integrity in everything we do.

• Society/Community engagement - we give back.

• Transparency in who we represent, our interests and our decisions.

Job Overview

The Chief Executive Officer is the Association’s senior executive leader, responsible for setting direction and ensuring the organisation delivers effectively for members and the wider funds and asset management sector.

The CEO leads delivery of the Association’s agreed mission and strategic plan, ensures the organisation effectively represents member interests, and maintains strong relationships with government, regulators, member firms, industry bodies and other key stakeholders.

Reporting formally to the Board and working in close partnership with the elected Council, the CEO helps shape priorities, translate them into clear operational plans, and ensure effective execution across the organisation.

The appointment will be made on a defined fixed-term basis, with the possibility of renewal, providing the successful candidate with a clear mandate to lead the Association through its next phase of development while supporting continuity and flexibility for the organisation.

This is a high-profile leadership role requiring strategic vision, sound judgement, strong relationship management, political and regulatory acumen, and the ability to lead with credibility and impact in a dynamic environment.

Key Responsibilities & Deliverables

1. Strategic leadership, governance and organisational stewardship

• Provide strategic leadership for the Association, working with the elected Council and Board to shape priorities and deliver the organisation’s strategic plan.

• Support effective governance by ensuring clear reporting, informed decision-making and constructive engagement across the Board, Council and committee structures.

• Oversee the Association’s financial sustainability, resource allocation and risk management, ensuring resources are aligned to strategic priorities.

• Identify appropriate commercial and revenue opportunities that strengthen the Association’s long-term sustainability and member value.

• Ensure the Association operates to high standards of integrity, transparency, compliance and organisational stewardship.

2. Advocacy, policy and external influence

• Provide senior leadership and strategic direction for the Association’s advocacy agenda, working closely with the Director of Public Affairs and relevant teams to ensure priorities are clear, coordinated and aligned with member and sector interests.

• Act as a senior external voice for the Association where appropriate, while supporting other senior leaders to contribute to external engagement in their areas of expertise.

• Build and maintain senior relationships that enhance the Association’s influence, credibility and ability to advocate effectively for members and the wider sector.

• Ensure external political, economic, legislative, regulatory and industry developments are identified, assessed and prioritised to inform the Association’s advocacy agenda and member engagement.

• Oversee high-quality consultation responses, policy positions, thought leadership and industry messaging that support member interests and Ireland’s long-term position as a leading funds and asset management centre.

3. Member value and stakeholder engagement

• Deliver a member-led approach across the organisation, ensuring activities are focused on outcomes, impact and the long-term development of the industry.

• Strengthen member engagement by ensuring member needs, feedback and sector perspectives inform priorities, decision-making and the design of Association activities.

• Ensure the Association delivers clear, measurable value for members through relevant advocacy, insight, engagement, events, services and communications.

• Build senior relationships with member firms and key stakeholders, ensuring the Association remains trusted, responsive and connected to the industry it represents.

4. Organisational effectiveness and operations

• Ensure the Association has a clear, effective and proportionate operating model, with the capabilities, systems and ways of working needed to support strategic delivery, strong prioritisation and high-impact execution.

• Lead effective planning and prioritisation across the organisation, ensuring resources are focused on the activities that will have greatest impact for members and the sector.

• Promote cross-functional collaboration and clear accountability so that work is delivered efficiently, consistently and to a high standard.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen organisational capability, innovation and resilience in support of the Association’s long-term effectiveness.

5. People leadership and culture

• Lead and develop a high-performing, multi-disciplinary team across Dublin and Brussels, providing clarity of purpose, strategic direction and visible leadership.

• Build, support and empower the senior leadership team, ensuring clear ownership, accountability and effective delivery across the Association’s key areas of activity.

• Foster a collaborative, inclusive and values-led culture that supports engagement, wellbeing, professional development and high standards of performance.

• Ensure clear objectives, appropriate delegation and effective feedback mechanisms are in place to align team activity with strategic priorities and member impact.

• Support talent development, knowledge sharing and leadership capability across the organisation.

• Role model integrity, professionalism, trust and continuous improvement in how the Association works internally and represents itself externally.

Qualifications & Experience

• Substantial senior leadership experience, with a strong track record of setting strategic direction, leading people and delivering organisational impact in a complex stakeholder environment.

• Experience in, or strong understanding of, a member association, representative body, professional services, financial services or other stakeholder-led organisation, with the ability to balance diverse member and sector perspectives.

• Strong understanding of the funds and asset management industry, financial services, capital markets, or a closely related regulated environment, with the credibility to engage at the most senior levels is an advantage.

• Strong understanding of public policy, regulation and advocacy in an Irish and/or international context, or the ability to rapidly develop that knowledge in role.

• Demonstrated experience working effectively with the Board, Council & committees or equivalent governance structures, supporting constructive decision-making, accountability and alignment.

• Proven ability to shape and deliver strategic plans through a multi-disciplinary leadership team in a lean, high-impact organisation.

• Excellent communication, advocacy, influencing and relationship management skills, with the ability to represent the organisation credibly with senior executives, policymakers, regulators, media and Irish, European and international stakeholders.

• Strong commercial and organisational acumen, including financial oversight, resource planning, risk management and disciplined prioritisation.

• Proven people leadership capability, including leading senior teams, building culture, developing talent and supporting high performance.

• Sound judgement, resilience and adaptability, with the ability to manage complexity, ambiguity and competing priorities.

• Degree qualified, with a relevant professional or postgraduate qualification desirable but not essential.

Benefits

• Hybrid Working – Dublin based (minimum 3 days per week) and remote working.

• Competitive salary with discretionary bonus.

• Pension contribution.

• Health cover allowance.

• Training and development encouraged and supported.

How to Apply

To apply or for a confidential conversation about the role, please contact:

• Donna Reilly on +353 86 816 1970 or at donna@donnareillywellness.ie