Bank of Ireland has hired Goodbody Stockbrokers analyst Eamonn Hughes to become its chief sustainability and investor relations officer.
Mr Hughes, a chartered accountant and holder of a masters in banking and finance, has held the role of Irish banks and insurance sector analyst since 2004, having previously served as head of the European banks team in ABN AMRO. He also holds a chartered financial analyst certificate in environment, social and governance investing.
Environment, social and governance issues in relation to the banking sector have been a major theme of Mr Hughes’s research in recent times.
“I’m delighted to welcome Eamonn as chief sustainability & investor relations officer,” said Bank of Ireland chief executive Francesca McDonagh.
“For Bank of Ireland, sustainability . . . is integral to our strategy underpinning our support for communities, customers and investors. Climate change is an existential threat to our world and we believe that banking, and Bank of Ireland, has a major role to play in this battle.”
The appointment comes as Bank of Ireland is preparing to take over the stockbroking and wealth management division of Goodbody's larger rival Davy, while Goodbody was recently acquired by the bank's main competitor, AIB.
Mr Hughes will be succeeded in Goodbody by fellow financial sector analyst John Cronin.
