How has BOI had a positive impact on Drogheda?
- Our purpose is to support customers and communities to thrive and this is very true for Drogheda.
- As the largest lender to the economy we have invested heavily in supporting the growth of a large number of businesses and personal customers in the area and we want to continue to do so.
- We are keen to build strong relationships and really get to know how businesses operate, understand the challenges and opportunities and work with our customers to help them achieve their ambitions
- With the largest branch network in Ireland, we are delighted to have a branch in the town and also X across Louth.
- One of the ways in which the Bank supports businesses and communities is through its Enterprise Programme. Our 19th National Enterprise Week will took place from the 5 to the 12 October with dedicated SME events in every county, around the theme of ‘Investing in your Business’.
- This year’s Louth event took place in Drogheda in the Monasterboice Inn. The focus of the event was supporting female business owners to invest in growth. The event was free for businesses to attend and we had a really exciting line up.
- In Louth this year, we also have three towns involved in the Bank of Ireland National Enterprise Town Awards –Dundalk, Blackrock and Dunleer – and hopefully we’ll have Drogheda in the line-up for 2019 as they came runner up in 2017.
Tell us 1 thing that not many people know about BOI locally/nationally.
- A lot of people will know that the bank has been around for a long time.. In fact, we’ve been serving customers through two centuries as we’ve been around for 235 years.
- We opened our first branch in 1783 at Mary's Abbey, Dublin
- In Louth our first branch opened in 1834 so it’s a really long time and we’re very proud of our strong historical ties to the area.
What achievement ( with the company) are you most proud of?
- As a local Drogheda native I am delighted to be the Head of County here in Louth. It is a real privilege to work every day with customers the breadth of the county and to really support the growth and development of the local economy.
What’s next for BOI?
- A lot. In recent months we have a new purpose which and this places the customer and community at very core of everything we do. So we are working hard in ensuring our people have the skills needed to do the best job possible for our customers. We recently had an announcement to enhance the number of frontline staff in branches nationwide. There is huge investment in our IT are improving services in terms of our online and IT services to deliver better for the customer. We recently announced our three year strategy and part of that is to lend more to businesses to support them as much as possible.
What’s the best piece of business advice you’ve ever been given?
- I really like the quote by renowned businessman Jack Welch former CEO of General Electric- If you’re standing still you’re going backwards.. I like this advice. It’s really relevant for someone like me, working with businesses who are adapting, developing and preparing for future growth. It’s important to be open to moving forward, to listening to customers and making changes to improve.
How long are you a Chamber member - what does being a member mean to you?
- We are proud to have a long association with Drogheda Chamber
- The Chamber plays a vital role in supporting business in the area and very importantly, in making connections. The opportunities you provide are invaluable in terms of our connecting with businesses. We really value what you do and are delighted to be part of this great network.