15 May 26

• Dublin, 15 May 2026 – Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD today announced the appointment of Carolan Lennon as Co-chair of Balance for Better Business (B4BB), an independent review group established by Government eight years ago tasked with improving gender balance in senior business leadership in Ireland.

  Carolan will succeed outgoing Co-chair Carol Andrews and will work closely with sitting Co-chair Bernard Byrne, who assumed his role in April 2024, to deliver on the initative’s mandate of advancing gender balance at board and leadership level in businesses across Ireland.

  Over the course of her three year tenure as Co-chair, outgoing Co-chair Carol Andrews has played an instrumental role in driving forward gender balance on the agenda of Irish businesses. A founding member of the B4BB Review Group, during her time as Co-chair, Ireland’s largest listed public companies have successfully reached and sustained a key milestone of 40%  female representation on company boards.

  Incoming Co-chair Carolan Lennon was most recently Country Leader for Salesforce Ireland and has a successful track record in driving innovation, transformation, and growth across businesses in the telecommunications, technology and finance sectors. She is a former CEO of eir, Ireland’s largest telecommunications company, and has extensive experience in strategic decision-making and governance at large, complex organisations. She was previously Senior Independent Director at AIB, where she served on the company board for six years.

  Established in 2018, Balance for Better Business is an independent business-led Review Group established by the government to improve and promote gender balance at board and leadership level of Irish business. Today, Ireland’s largest listed businesses rank 6^th in the EU for the proportion of women on company boards — a major leap from 16^th place when the initative 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 Ireland’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.

  Commenting on the appointment, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD said: “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. 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.

  I’d like to thank Carol Andrews for her excellent stewardship of the initiative over the past three years. Under her shared leadership, Ireland’s largest listed companies have successfully reached and maintained a key milestone of 40%  female representation on company boards. It is crucial that we now build on and accelerate this positive progress across every sector of our economy. With Co-chairs Carolan and Bernard, and our review group across Irish enterprise, I’m committed to driving this work forward so that balanced leadership becomes a pillar of every organisation in the country.”

  Balance for Better Business Co-Chair, Bernard Byrne said: “I am delighted to welcome Carolan as Co-chair of Balance for Better Business. Her experience in driving transformation across the technology, telecommunications and other sectors will be invaluable as we seek 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. A special thank you to my outgoing Co-chair Carol Andrews for her outstanding leadership and commitment to the initative over the past three years. Her drive and dedication which has been central to the progress achieved by Irish business in recent years.”

  Speaking on her appointment, Carolan Lennon, incoming Balance for Better Business Co-Chair said: “It is an honour to take on the role of Balance for Better Business Co-chair at such a pivotal time for Irish business. 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.”

  For more information on Balance for Better Business, visit: www.betterbalance.ie

  ENDS

  For media queries contact:

  Suzanne Sullivan, Q4PR: [email protected] / 086 379 7921

  Notes to Editor

  Balance for Better Business (B4BB)

  Balance for Better Business (B4BB) is an independent business-led Review Group established by the government in July 2018 to improve and promote gender balance at board and leadership level of Irish business, which in turn will drive better business and societal outcomes.

  Biographies
  Carolan Lennon is a former Country Leader of Salesforce Ireland. Prior to joining Salesforce, she served as the CEO of eir, Ireland’s largest telecommunications company. She is a Non-Executive Director at Flutter Entertainment Plc, and was previously Senior Independent Director at AIB. She is also a Patron of Chapter Zero Ireland, a community dedicated to addressing the impacts of climate change through boardroom discussions. She holds an MBA from Trinity College Dublin and a BSc in Information Technology from University College Dublin.

  Bernard Byrne is a Chartered Accountant with significant leadership, financial and commercial experience as well as a deep understanding of the Irish market and economy. Bernard most recently served for as CEO of J+E Davy, Ireland’s largest independent stockbroking and wealth management business. During his time at Davy he played a key role in the growth of  the business, the launch of its ESG advisory arm, the sale of the company, and its integration into the Bank of Ireland Group. Prior to this, Bernard served as CEO of AIB Group plc leading the successful rationalisation and IPO of the bank. He joined AIB in 2010 as CFO of the Group and also headed up the Retail, Commercial and Corporate banking activities during his tenure.  He has been a long serving supporter and a Co-Chair of the Financial services arm of the 30% Club.