The Board

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Liam FitzGerald – Chairman

Liam FitzGerald was appointed Chairman of the Gowan Group in 2020.  Liam is the former CEO of UDG Healthcare plc, the leading international provider of clinical, commercial, communication, and packaging services to the healthcare industry. Formerly a Director of C&C plc and Warner Chilcott plc and former Chairman of Tedcastles Ltd. and the International Federation of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers(IFPW).  Liam has a Masters in Business from the Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School and a Batchelor of Commerce from University College Dublin.  In addition to his role as Chairman of Gowan Group, Liam is an Operating Adviser with Clayton Dubilier & Rice, a leading Private Equity business based in New York and London  
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Michael Dwan – Group Managing Director

Managing Director of the Gowan Group since January 2000 and Chairman of all its subsidiary companies. Michael joined the Group in 1998 as Finance Director. Prior to joining the Group, he was Finance Director at GE Capital Woodchester Bank and an Audit Manager with KPMG. Michael is a Business Studies graduate of Trinity College, Dublin and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
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Frank Murphy – Group Finance Director

Frank Murphy, FCCA , joined the Gowan Group as Finance Director in April 2000, having worked since 1995 in a number of senior financial management positions in Dunnes Stores, Ireland's largest retailer. Prior to this he worked in Irish Life plc. as a Senior Manager in the financial management division of the Retail Life and Pensions business.
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Fiona Thomas – Shareholder/Director

A shareholder of the Group, and a member of the Gowan Group Board since 1990. Fiona graduated in 1987 with a B.B.S. (Hons.) degree from Trinity College, Dublin and in 1993 with an M.B.A. from INSEAD. Prior to joining the management of Gowan Group, Fiona worked in the marketing division of Unilever (Elida Gibbs Ltd.) in the UK and as a Business Analyst in McKinsey & Company in London. Fiona is the eldest daughter of the late Con Smith. She is a Director of the Group's UK Interest.
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Alba Smith- Group Board Director/Shareholder

A shareholder of the Group and a Director of the Gowan Group Board since 2022.. Alba graduated from Trinity College with an honours degree in Spanish and Classics and also holds a Diploma in Business Studies from Michael Smurfit UCD.  Alba worked for Event Plus PR specialising in Medical Conferences and studied PR at the Fitzwilliam Institute before joining the Board of Group subsidiary companies Universal Honda Ltd. (2003) and Kitchen Accessories Ltd (2011).  Alba is the youngest daughter of the late Con Smith.
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Michael Cawley – Non-Executive Director

Michael returned to the Group in 2016 as non-executive Director.  A chartered accountant Michael worked for the Gowan Group as Finance Director before joining Ryanair where he held a number of positions including Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Chief Executive.  Michael is currently Chairman of Failte Ireland and holds directorships in Ryanair, Paddy Power PLC, Kingspan Group PLC and Hostelworld.  Michael holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland
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Cliona Mullen – Non-Executive Director

Cliona was a partner in KPMG Ireland for 24 years until April 2022. At KPMG she provided audit and advisory services to listed companies and large private corporates across the consumer, distribution, real estate, construction, utilities and leisure sectors. She held leadership roles at KPMG as a Member of the Firm’s Supervisory Board and as Head of the Consumer & Industrial Markets Audit Practice. She was also KPMG’s HR Partner for a number of years. Cliona previously served as a member of the Board of the Coombe Women & Infants University Hospital, and she is currently a Director of Social Entrepreneurs Ireland. Cliona is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin (Bachelor of Business Studies) and is a Chartered Accountant (Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland- CAI).
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Sharon Fennessy – Non-Executive Director

Sharon joins the Gowan Board having spent more than a decade with Diageo PLC, based in the UK, where she was most recently the Group Controller. Prior to that Head of Investor Relations, Group Treasurer and Finance and Strategy Director for Western Europe. Prior to that Sharon worked with the telecoms company Nortel, in multiple locations across Europe and the USA. Sharon holds a Business Studies degree from DCU and is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. Sharon is also a Non-Executive Director with the John Lewis Partnership.

Gowan Group House, 1 Herbert Avenue,
Merrion Road, Dublin 4

Tel:
+353 1 218 6750
Fax:
+353 1 260 1672
Email:
info@gowangroup.ie