The First Lady of business

Gillian Bowler will become the first female chairperson of a public company in Ireland when she takes over at Irish Life & Permanent next month. IAN GUIDER reports on a journey to the top that started in a Dublin basement.

WEARING her trademark sunglasses Gillian Bowler said yesterday with mild understatement that she was delighted to become the new chairperson of Irish Life & Permanent.

She is, perhaps, a fitting choice to head the third largest financial institution in the country. The unofficial first lady of Irish business has broken many records in her 30 years here and yesterday she became the first woman to head an Irish public company.