St Vincent’s Healthcare Group announces Conall O’Halloran as new chair

Paul Lynch and Orlaith Blaney have also been appointed to the board

SVHG is one of the largest independent healthcare groups in Ireland, incorporating St Vincent’s University Hospital, St Michael’s hospital in Dún Laoghaire and St Vincent’s Private Hospital. Photograph: Dave Meehan
SVHG is one of the largest independent healthcare groups in Ireland, incorporating St Vincent’s University Hospital, St Michael’s hospital in Dún Laoghaire and St Vincent’s Private Hospital. Photograph: Dave Meehan

Conall O’Halloran has been announced as the new chair of St Vincent’s Healthcare Group (SVHG), following the retirement of James Menton.

Paul Lynch and Orlaith Blaney have also been appointed to the board following the retirement of another board member, Gerard Flood.

Mr Menton was appointed a director and chair of SVHG in September 2014, and during his tenure oversaw the transfer of ownership by the Religious Sisters of Charity to St Vincent’s Holdings, CLG.

He also oversaw the implementation of new governance structures and the agreement to relocate the National Maternity Hospital, Holles Street to the SVHG campus on Merrion Road, as well as more recent developments in the expansion of the Merrion campus among other things.

READ MORE

He said that serving as a director and as chair of the board had been an honour and a privilege.

“The historic and generous decision by the Sisters of Charity to transfer ownership of the St Vincent’s Healthcare Group to our new holding company, SVH CLG, has paved the way for a new era in healthcare in Ireland,” Mr Menton said.

“I am delighted that the board, led by Conall O’Halloran will lead the implementation of the group’s recently approved ‘Strategy 2030′ which will ensure that SVHG will continue to grow, develop and remain a private, independent group that invests all our funds in the treatment and care of our patients,” he said.

Mr O’Halloran joined the board of SVHG in October 2021 and is a former partner in KPMG. He also served two terms on the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, serving as president in 2019 and 2020.

He was a director of Hibernia REIT plc and is also chair of the Audit Committee of the Irish Universities Association.

Mr O’Halloran thanked Mr Menton on behalf of the SHVG group for his “unswerving dedication, contribution and commitment” to the group.

“Through periods of unprecedented change and the uncertainty of the Covid-19 pandemic, he at all times acted in the best interests of our group, our staff and our patients. His legacy on our group is immense,” he said.

He added that a priority for the board will be the transfer and integration of maternity services from Holles Street to a new purpose-built hospital at SVHG, while their “Strategy 2030″ will see new investment in all of their hospitals and facilities.

SVHG is one of the largest independent healthcare groups in Ireland, incorporating St Vincent’s University Hospital, St Michael’s hospital in Dún Laoghaire and St Vincent’s Private Hospital.

The group has about 6,000 staff.

Ellen O’Donoghue

Ellen O’Donoghue

Ellen O'Donoghue is an Irish Times journalist