In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Ken Bowles of Smurfit Kappa Group discusses the Irish packaging company's recent merger announcement and what it means for their growth.  Also, as he approaches almost 30 years with the company, he talks about why people are at the heart of a successful business and how Smurfit Kappa's focus on sustainability now means the same box is used 25 times. 

In this episode of the EY CFO Outlook podcast, Tom Hickey of mining company Kenmare Resources chats to host Jonathan Healy about becoming a CFO at the young age of 31, the importance of storytelling in business, his love of the natural resources sector and how ESG is at the heart of Kenmare’s operations in Mozambique.     

In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook series, Conor Galvin tells host Richard Curran about his unconventional journey to the position of CEO of Dairygold and his long term strategic ambitions for the company. He also shares his unique insights into the current challenges and opportunities facing the food production sector.When Conor Galvin became CEO of Dairygold in January 2022, it was a period of great volatility and uncertainty. The company’s energy bills had soared by 800% due to rising gas prices and the war in Ukraine. Galvin managed, not only to steer the company through this difficult period, but to oversee a record turnover of €1.65bn, an increase of over 40% from the previous year. Growing up on a dairy farm gave Galvin a deep understanding of all aspects of the food production industry and an appreciation for the work involved and the pressures experienced by the whole supply chain. That, combined with later qualifications in science and accountancy, have helped him to build a vision for the future of Dairygold, including new building opportunities in the health and nutrition spaces.They also discuss:· Galvin’s education and career experience leading up to Dairygold and what he learned at each step along the way.· Environmental sustainability and food production – what Ireland does well, where it can improve, and the role that new technologies are playing.· People management and trying to balance achieving consensus with the imperatives of getting the job done.· Galvin’s focus on long term value and how he tries to balance the needs of the company today with that of the future.· The leader that had the most impact on his career and why.

In this episode of The EY Podcast: CEO Outlook Series, Jim Bergin, CEO of Tirlán, tells host Richard Curran the story of his 30-year journey to the top of one of Ireland’s best-known indigenous companies. Jim leads Tirlán during a very significant time for the company, with a recent restructuring from plc to cooperative, the creation of a new investment fund, and record farmgate prices.Coming from a farming family in Co Kilkenny, Jim Bergin has always understood the language of farmers, the pressures they face, and the values of the farming community. This knowledge has served him well throughout his lengthy career in the agri-food sector. He recently guided Glanbia Co-op as it transitioned to full control of the Glanbia Ireland dairy and grains business and it unveiled a new identity, ‘Tirlán’.As Ireland’s largest farmer-owned food and nutrition business, Tirlán has a diverse portfolio of leading ingredients, consumer and agri brands, including Avonmore, Kilmeaden, Wexford, and GAIN Animal Nutrition. With a network of 11 high-tech processing facilities, 52 agri-retail branches, and over 11,000 members, the farmer-owned cooperative holds a very important position in the Irish economy. A recent Economic Impact Study by EY showed that Tirlán generated total economic activity of €5.5 billion in 2022. Moreover, it supports over 19,200 direct and indirect jobs spread throughout operations in 17 counties.They also discuss: How Jim’s childhood as the only son of a small farmer still helps him to carry out his role successfully today. The differences and similarities between plc and cooperative company structures and his recent experience of changing Glanbia plc into Tirlán cooperative. The future of farming – reducing the national herd, incentivising increased biodiversity, and how new technologies will drive greater productivity. How Tirlán is adapting to cater for increasing demand for plant-based products. How Ireland can become less vulnerable to an unpredictable geo-political environment.     

In this episode of The EY CEO Outlook Podcast Series, Enda McMahon of Blackrock Asset Management Ireland, joins host Richard Curran to talk about his journey from the public sector, where he worked with Ireland’s C&AG and Financial Regulator, to his current leadership position with the world’s largest asset manager, and the valuable lessons he has learned along the way. Blackrock is the world's largest asset manager with approximately $8 trillion in assets under management. The company’s purpose is to help more and more people experience financial well-being. For Enda McMahon, CEO of Blackrock’s Irish operations, a core part of the mission is to empower people to have ‘dignity in retirement’.  Enda not only has a professional background in compliance and regulation, he has a passion for it. For him, trust is at the heart of a properly functioning financial system and his career has always involved making sure that ‘people are doing the right thing, backed with integrity’.  They discuss: ·        Enda’s experience of moving from the public into the private sector, and how this required him to become less ‘purist’ around compliance.  ·        The importance of building strong relationships based on trust between financial services companies and regulators, and how that is achieved. ·        The power of active listening and understanding the position and priorities of stakeholders.  ·        How and why Blackrock has repositioned all of its products towards sustainability, and why customers need to be protected against ‘green washing’. ·        Blackrock’s ongoing journey to becoming a more diverse and inclusive organisation.