The Irish ProShare Association (IPSA) has announced that Marie Flynn will step down as Chair on 31 March, marking the end of a highly successful four-year term. She will be succeeded by current Vice Chair, Peter O’Connor, with Rosaleen Boyle of A&L Goodbody stepping into the role of Vice Chair.
Marie has led IPSA since 2022, guiding the organisation through a period of renewed energy, growth and strengthened engagement across the share plans and employee ownership community in Ireland.
Rebuilding connections
A key focus during Marie’s tenure was re-establishing IPSA’s in-person events following the disruption of COVID-19. Since September 2022, IPSA has hosted three in-person events each year, with its annual Emploee Share Ownership Day (ESOD) conference firmly cemented as Ireland’s leading share ownership conference.
ACHIEVEMENTS: Outgoing IPSA Chair Marie Flynn
These events – which inlcudes the Annual Jack FitzPatrick Lecture and Summer Breakfast – have provided valuable opportunities for members to connect, share insights and stay informed.
IPSA has also strengthened its relationships with key stakeholders, with regular in-person engagement with Revenue and the Department of Finance resuming post-pandemic. This ongoing dialogue has ensured that the perspectives of IPSA members and the broader share plan community continue to influence Revenue practice / guidance and inform policy discussions.
A particularly important area of focus has been Employee Ownership Trusts (EOTs). Through sustained advocacy and constructive engagement with the Department of Finance, Revenue, and political representatives across all parties, IPSA has helped to raise the profile of EOTs significantly and move them higher up the policy agenda in Ireland. This activity was instrumental in securing a recommendation in the 2024 Indecon report commissioned by the Government that EOTs be implemented in Ireland.
This work has also contributed to growing recognition of the role employee ownership can play in supporting business succession and broadening wealth participation. IPSA is encouraged by the progress to date and is confident that EOTs will be appropriately recognised in Ireland in the near future.
Marie Flynn following a cross-party briefing on EOTs at Leinster House, with (from left) George Lawlor TD, Labour Party Spokesperson on Enterprise, Tourism and Employment; former UK government adviser on employee ownership Graeme Nuttall OBE; Wolfgang Digital founder Alan Coleman; and Peter Burke, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment.
Saving SAYE
IPSA played a complementary advocacy role alongside AIB and Computershare, representing industry and employer perspectives to Government and reinforcing the case for sustaining the popular all-employee Save As You Earn (SAYE) scheme, which had been effectively closed off due to the lack of a savings carrier, following the departure of Ulster Bank from the Irish market.
This supported a successful outcome in 2024, in which AIB facilitated entered SAYE as the savings carrier and Computershare as scheme administrator, ensuring the continuity of SAYE in Ireland and its ongoing availability to employees.
Membership has also grown steadily since the pandemic, reflecting the continued relevance of employee share ownership and the value IPSA provides to its members.
A strong foundation for the future
Peter O’Connor, Tax Director at EY, takes on the role of Chair having worked closely alongside Marie as Vice Chair over the past number of years. His experience and deep involvement in IPSA’s activities provide strong continuity as the Association looks ahead.
Rosaleen Boyle, a highly-respected Senior Advisor in Incentives at A&L Goodbody, takes up the position of Vice Chair, further strengthening the leadership team.
Reflecting on her time as Chair, Marie Flynn said: “It has been a real privilege to serve as Chair of IPSA over the past four years. I’m particularly proud of how we reconnected as a community after COVID, with our events programme going from strength to strength and consistently engaging our members. IPSA hopes to continue and grow this engagement with its members.
New IPSA Chair Peter O’Connor and Vice Chair Rosaleen Boyle
“I’m also very pleased with the progress we’ve made in advocating for employee ownership, particularly in helping to bring EOTs into sharper focus at Government level. This is an area that I will continue to be heavily involved in through continued advocacy and creating awareness in the business community. Overall, IPSA is in a strong position, and I look forward to seeing it continue to grow under Peter’s leadership.”
Incoming Chair Peter O’Connor said: “I’m delighted to take on the role of Chair and to build on the excellent work led by Marie over the past number of years.
“IPSA plays an important role in bringing together companies and professionals operating in the employee share ownership sector, and providing them with a voice that is heard by policymakers and regulators.”
“There is real momentum behind employee ownership and share participation, and I’m excited to work with the committee and our members to further develop that in the years ahead.”
As IPSA moves into this next phase, the organisation remains focused on supporting its members and continuing to promote the role of employee share ownership in Ireland.
