Merrion Capital has appointed the former Davy, AIB and Anglo Irish Bank executive Jack O'Keeffe as its head of corporate finance. Merrion Capital chief executive Patrick O'Neill wrote to staff yesterday outlining the appointment.
Mr O'Keeffe fills a position essentially vacant since a 2014 management buyout. Rose McHugh held the title of head of corporate finance until last year, while former chief executive John Conroy also had a strong background in corporate finance.
Since 2010, Mr O'Keeffe ran a corporate consultancy, Larchmont Consulting. In past years he was general manager of First Active, director of private clients at Davy stockbrokers, director of marketing at Anglo and an associate director of AIB.
From 2006 to 2009 he was also the chairman of the ITC group.
Mr O’Neill told staff in an email that Mr O’Keeffe was a “a seasoned negotiator” who would assist in growing the group. “He has extensive experience of fundraising and deal structuring in particular for the property and renewable energy sectors,” he wrote.
Merrion has beefed up its senior team in recent months. It recently hired high-profile investment specialist Pramit Ghose from Davy as its new global strategist.
It also hired a number of portfolio managers in recent months, including Jim McGoldrick, a senior manager, who also joined from Davy.