Business movers: People starting new jobs in Ireland

New appointees with Philip Lee, Deloitte Ireland, SYS Financial, National Concert Hall and Nestlé Ireland

New roles: (top row) Alan Connell, Tanya Sexton, Dessie Kilkenny; (bottom row) Eve Nolan, Nigel Flegg, Ian Cullen.

Here is a selection of people starting new roles with Philip Lee, Deloitte Ireland, SYS Financial, National Concert Hall and Nestlé Ireland.

Alan Connell, formerly managing partner and head of Tax at Eversheds Sutherland Ireland, has law firm Philip Lee as a senior partner in its tax practice, working with Michael McGivern, head of tax. Alan has advised on some of the largest inward investment and restructuring projects in Ireland. He advised Intel on the $11bn strategic joint venture investment by Apollo relating to Intel’s Fab 34 Irish facility; he assisted Eirgrid Group and Reseau de Transport d’Electricite on the €1bn energy transition project; and he advised Tokyo based Sojitz Group on the purchase of Irish energy company Pinergy. Philip lee has offices in Dublin, London and New York.

Tanya Sexton is taking on a new role, leading debt advisory, value creation and performance improvement within corporate finance for Deloitte Ireland, while she has also been appointed as head of private equity. Tanya brings over 23 years of experience from Dublin, London and New York, advising corporates and private equity sponsors on capital structuring and investment strategy. Prior to rejoining Deloitte, she held senior leadership roles in corporate banking at HSBC and Santander. In her new role, Tanya will combine cross-border deal experience with a deep understanding of the Irish market, advising private equity firms and Irish medium and large public and private companies.

Dessie Kilkenny has been appointed as managing director for real estate M&A with Deloitte Ireland, a newly created position at the firm. He joins from CBRE, where he held a leadership role in their capital markets division. Over the last 20 years, he has advised clients on many of Ireland’s largest real estate transactions, the most recent of which was the sale of the Blanchardstown Shopping Centre. “Ireland is likely to see continued population growth over the next 15 years; Irish real estate will need to develop and evolve. I look forward to helping all those active in Irish real estate investment to navigate this change,” said Dessie.

Eve Nolan has been appointed as head of self-directed pensions with financial advisory firm SYS Financial. She brings over a decade of experience in financial services, including eight years with Independent Trustee Company (ITC). She is a specialist in self-directed pensions (SSAS, PRSAs, PRBs, ARFs) – a very technical area of the market that is experiencing significant growth as more clients seek flexibility, control, and tailored retirement options. She has built a strong track record in tax-efficient retirement planning, succession strategies, and navigating regulatory frameworks. Eve holds a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and professional qualifications including QFA, RPA, and most recently, a Diploma in Data Analytics for Business.

Nigel Flegg will succeed Robert Read as CEO of the at the National Concert Hall in February 2026. Currently NCH’s head of learning and participation, Nigel has 20+ years of senior experience across the music, education, and public sectors. Since 2014, he has shaped strategy, growth and the NCH’s vision for inclusivity and artistic excellence. He was previously director of Newpark Music Centre in Blackrock, Co Dublin. As a percussionist and drummer, he has worked with leading Irish jazz musicians, Latin-American projects, the RTÉ Concert Orchestra and Dead Can Dance. Nigel holds a Master’s in Educational Leadership and Management, and a BA in Spanish and Classics from TCD.

Ian Cullen has been appointed as national account controller with Nestlé Ireland. He will oversee delivery of retail plans across an extensive portfolio of products across Nestlé’s confectionery, coffee, pet care, food and nutrition categories. He joins from Kerry Group, where he held a number of senior commercial and strategic roles. Most recently, he served as European sales director foodservice leading strategic innovation at both regional and global levels. Prior to joining Kerry Group, Ian was senior business development manager with Dawn Farm Foods and senior customer business manager with Unilever. A graduate of the National College of Ireland, Ian holds qualifications in Management and Employee Relations.