Carolan Lennon has been appointed as Co-chair of Balance for Better Business (B4BB), the independent review group established by the Government eight years ago, which aims to improve gender balance in senior business leadership in Ireland.
Carolan Lennon will succeed outgoing Co-chair Carol Andrews and will work closely with sitting Co-chair Bernard Byrne, who assumed his role in April 2024.
Ms Lennon was most recently Country Leader for Salesforce Ireland and is a former CEO of eir, the country’s biggest telecommunications company. She has extensive experience in strategic decision-making and governance at large, complex organisations.
She was also previously Senior Independent Director at AIB, where she served on the company board for six years.
Ireland’s biggest listed businesses currently rank sixth in the EU for the proportion of women on company boards, a big leap from 16th place when the initiative was first established and testament to the collective effort undertaken by Irish business.
With the EU’s Gender Balance on Corporate Boards Directive coming into force in June this year, maintaining the country’s leadership position will depend on continued investment in inclusive talent strategies and leadership development.
The new rules require all in-scope companies to ensure at least 40% of non-executive directors are members of the underrepresented sex.
Carolan Lennon, incoming Balance for Better Business Co-Chair, said the milestones achieved in recent years show what is possible when organisations commit to building more inclusive and balanced leadership teams.
“As new EU wide rules come into force for businesses in Ireland, it is essential that businesses continue to invest in the talent, culture and governance needed to sustain long‑term change. I look forward to working with Bernard, the Review Group and leaders across the country to build on the strong foundation already in place and accelerate the gender balance journey of Irish businesses,” she added.
Balance for Better Business Co-Chair Bernard Byrne said that Ms Lennon’s experience in driving transformation across the technology, telecommunications and other sectors will be invaluable as the group seeks to support more organisations advance their gender balance journey.
“Ireland has made significant progress in improving gender balance at board level, but maintaining that momentum requires continued focus, ambition and collaboration across the business community,” he said.
“A special thank you to my outgoing Co-chair Carol Andrews for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the initiative over the past three years. Her drive and dedication which has been central to the progress achieved by Irish business in recent years,” he added.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said that gender balance is critically important in order to forge a stronger future for Irish businesses.
“From better meeting talent needs, to creating a stronger performance, more balanced organisations are better equipped with the capabilities and perspectives to drive future growth and competitiveness,” Mr Burke said.
“As the incoming Co-chair of the initiative, Carolan has the right skills and experience to support Irish businesses on their gender balance journey and ensure we maintain the positive momentum achieved in recent years,” he added.
