Not-For-ProfitCommercial Director
IndustrialDirector of Operations
Public ServiceChief Executive Officer
Private EquityChief Investment Officer
Professional BodyHead of Communications
IndustrialCommercial Director
IndustrialManaging Director
Professional BodyChief Executive Officer
Public ServiceChief Executive Officer
Not-For-ProfitDirector of Services
Public ServiceHead of Communications
IndustrialChief Human Resources Officer
Private EquityNon-Executive Chairman
Public ServiceHead of Sustainability
Not-For-ProfitChief Operating Officer
Public Service Chief People Officer
Not-For-ProfitHead of Human Resources
Principal Connections - executive search, is a leading executive search and leadership consulting firm, and part of Agilium Worldwide LLC, one of the world’s top global executive search groups.
With offices across Ireland and the United Kingdom, we partner with large multinational corporations, small-to-medium enterprises, start-up and family-owned businesses, not-for-profit, semi-state and public-sector bodies in the delivery of senior executive, CEO, interim and board search services in addition to a comprehensive suite of leadership consulting solutions.
Through our vast experience we understand that every client challenge and context is unique. The services we offer are therefore tailored to the individual needs of every client, offering a customised solution to even the most complex human capital challenges.
HR Leaders Series
Executive Search Firm, Principal Connections announce Caroline Collins as HR Leader of the Month for September 2021 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Caroline Collins the person? The CareerWhen I was a kid, the plan was to be a lawyer – maybe a forewarning about my interest […]
HR Leaders Series
Irish Executive Search Firm, Principal Connections announce Jim O'Brien as HR Leader of the Month for July 2021 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Jim O'Brien the person? The PersonI’m married to Dee for 17 years and we have 3 kids - Ben, Rachel and Sarah (who […]
HR Leaders Series
Dublin Executive Search Firm, Principal Connections announce Michelle Bonner as HR Leader of the Month for June 2021 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Michelle Bonner the person? The PersonBorn in Country Clare and raised on a farm, I've also lived and worked in Australia and currently […]
Award
17th May 2021 - Dublin, Ireland - Market research firm and single source information provider to the human capital sector, Hunt Scanlon, has once again named Agilium Worldwide Executive Search Group, of which Principal Connections is the Irish Office, as part of its 2021 Top 40 Global Executive Search Firms. Hunt Scanlon reviewed an exhaustive […]
HR Leaders Series
Executive Search Firm, Principal Connections announce Tadhg O’Halloran as HR Leader of the Month for May 2021 [nest_sib_popup id=3 text="Subscribe"] Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Tadhg O’Halloran the person? The PersonI'm a native of Cork and proud as hell to be. In essence I'm a very simple […]
HR Leaders Series
Executive Search Partners Principal Connections announce Nicola McCarthy as HR Leader of the Month for April 2021 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Nicola McCarthy the person? The CareerI fell into HR completely by accident. After finishing school, I was keen to start working, so while most […]
HR Leaders Series
Executive Recruitment Firm Principal Connections announce Joe ffrench as HR Leader of the Month for March 2021 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Joe ffrench the person? The CareerI’ve been lucky to have a diverse set of HR roles spanning different industries and a variety of Irish-based, […]
Senior Appointments
The latest Senior, Executive and Board Appointments - Ireland & UK Principal Connections - executive search issues a circular synopsising the latest Senior, Executive and Board Appointments that have been announced for the preceding weeks across Ireland, the UK and sometimes further afield. January Issue June Issue September Issue November Issue 2 February Issue May […]
Award
PRINCIPAL CONNECTIONS TAKES "BEST IN EXECUTIVE RECRUITMENT" Dublin, Ireland, February 01st 2021 -- The ninth Chambers Ireland National InBUSINESS Recognition Awards, took place on the later date this year, of Friday last, January 29th 2021. With Ireland now well into its third lockdown, a prestigious list of Irish businesses attended the awards which were streamed […]
CEO & Board Report
CEO & Board Directors Consensus 2021: The Board Director of Today Principal Connections’ CEO and Board Search Practice has helped many of the most successful organisations across Ireland build their boards and senior leadership teams. As we continue to navigate the global public health emergency as well as Brexit and new trade deal arrangements, the […]
HR Leaders Series
Executive Search Specialists Principal Connections announce Cathal Esler as HR Leader of the Month for December 2020 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER Describe your career journey? Originally from Mayo but living in Galway for almost 20 years, I’ve been a people person and an organiser for as long as I can remember, even back to my secondary school […]
HR Directors Report
HR Directors Consensus 2020: The Role of the HR Director in Ireland At Principal Connections, we partner with many of Ireland’s most senior HR Directors seeking to appoint the best leadership talent at home and from abroad. Moreover, such HR leaders frequently refer to us in striving to achieve their own individual career goals. In […]
HR Leaders Series
Irish Executive Search Firm, Principal Connections announce Jan Smullen as HR Leader of the Month for November 2020 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER Describe your career journey? The CareerI started my career in AIB and worked there for almost 33 years, 20 of which were in HR working across senior leadership roles at divisional level, leading teams which […]
HR Leaders Series
Kara Walsh, Vice President Human Resources, Principal Connections executive search' HR Leader of the Month for October 2020 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Kara Walsh the person? The CareerOver the last 22 years I have being very lucky to have had the development and professional opportunities I […]
HR Leaders Series
Dr. Sinéad Brennan, Chief People Officer, Principal Connections executive search' HR Leader of the Month for September 2020 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Sinéad Brennan the person? The CareerI started my career in a small HR consultancy firm as part of a graduate development programme. I made […]
Article
Pat O’Donnell, Managing Partner, Principal Connections – The Irish Office of Agilium Worldwide Executive Search Group, discusses what nonprofit recruitment committees and boards look for when seeking to recruit great leaders. According to Benefacts' Nonprofit Sector Analysis 2020, Ireland's nonprofit sector has at least 32,841 Organisations, 165,075 Employees, 86,481 Directors/Trustees, €14.2bn Turnover and receives €5.9bn […]
HR Leaders Series
Veronica van der Hoeven, Managing Director for People Strategy, Principal Connections' HR Leader of the Month for August 2020 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Veronica van der Hoeven the person? The CareerAs Managing Director for People Strategy at MUFG Investor Services I’m responsible for culture and […]
HR Leaders Series
Clair Daly, Head of People, Principal Connections' HR Leader of the Month for July 2020 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Clair Daly the person? The CareerI have almost 20 years’ experience in HR. I completed a HR/IR graduate programme with IBEC in 2003 which catapulted me into […]
Award
Uncategorized
Agilium Worlwide Executive Search Group, was once again list in Hunt Scanlon’s Top Global Executive Search Firms for 2020. Dublin, Ireland - Hunt Scanlon has named Agilium Worldwide Executive Search Group, of which Principal Connections is the Irish Office, in its 2020 Top 40 Global executive search firms list. Hunt Scanlon reviewed an exhaustive list […]
Article
'COVID-19: Leadership Perspectives from Ireland's Executives and Board Directors' It’s often said that in times of crises, people stand side by side. And over the past number of months, we’ve seen many examples of this: neighbours supporting neighbours. Communities rallying together to acknowledge the tremendous work of healthcare professionals. Companies adjusting to turn out much needed medical […]
HR Leaders Series
Orla Graham, Chief People Officer, Principal Connections' HR Leader of the Month for June 2020 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Orla Graham the person? The Career I started my career with Marks & Spencer in the U.K. as part of the graduate management development programme after doing a […]
CEO One to One Series
Episode 2. Mark Middleton, Practice Leader at Principal Connections interviews Barry Fehily, CEO of ING Bank NV (Dublin Branch) to discuss his career journey, organisational culture, executive leadership, the biggest challenges facing the banking sector and of course what's next for ING in Ireland. The recording took place pre-Covid-19. About Barry FehilyBarry Fehily is Chief Executive […]
CEO One to One Series
Episode 1. Mark Middleton, Practice Leader at Principal Connections interviews Ann Prendergast, CEO of State Street Global Advisors (SSGA) Ireland to discuss her career journey, organisational culture, executive leadership, the biggest challenges facing the asset management sector right now and of course what's next for SSGA in Ireland. About Ann Prendergast Ann Prendergast is Chief […]
Leaders Talent Report
Shaping Ireland's future leadership talent landscape: Principal Connections Leaders Talent Report 2020.
Article
CEO Succession: 'Finding a new CEO who’s ready to deal with tomorrow’s challenges.' Perhaps no single decision has a more substantial impact on the future of a company than the selection of a new Chief Executive. Choosing a CEO is possibly the most significant decision a board can make. While certain circumstances may deem the […]
Uncategorized
Top CEO's and Business Leaders gather at No. 25 Kildare Street, Dublin 2
Article
No company traded on the Euronext Dublin markets should have an all-male board by the end of this year. This is just one of the targets set by a new Government-commissioned report on gender balance in Irish businesses according to Dublin executive search firm, Principal Connections. The report also says one-third of directors at the […]
Award
Principal Connections, Ireland’s leading executive recruitment firm was proud to be awarded with the vastly coveted All-Ireland Business All-Star accreditation at Croke Park on Wednesday last, 12th of December 2018. The All-Star accreditation is an independently verified standard mark for indigenous businesses based on rigorous selection criteria including - performance, trust and customer centricity.
Article
Pat O’Donnell, Managing Partner of Principal Connections, shares his insights to achieve diversity in the boardroom. There are few companies and board rooms where the subject of diversity has not been the focus of debate or at least discussion in recent years. From its close connotations with gender, ethnicity, age among other familiar categories, over […]
HR Leaders Series
Executive Search Agency, Principal Connections announce Kevin Foley as HR Leader of the Month for August 2021 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about Kevin Foley the person? Having completed my Bachelor of Commerce at UCC, I followed that up with a Masters in HRM from UL. My […]
Leaders Talent Report
Leaders Talent Report 2021: A Report for Ireland's Senior Executives As featured in the Sunday Independent 25th April 2021 At Principal Connections, we partner with many of Ireland’s most noteworthy senior executive teams and boards to appoint the best leadership talent from the local as well as the international market. The allocation of financial capital […]
HR Leaders Series
Executive Search Firm Principal Connections announce John Keogh as HR Leader of the Month for February 2021 Subscribe Q. THE CAREER & THE PERSON Describe your career journey and tell us about John Keogh the person? When I started my working life, it would be fair to say that I did so without having any clear […]
Consumer Goods & Services
