Events Digest
Thank you to our supporters and sponsors who helped make the Irish American Partnership’s annual Business Leaders Breakfast a great success for the 5th year running. More than 300 of our supporters and friends came together at the Union League Club of New York on April 18 to celebrate Irish leadership and ingenuity in business.
The Partnership presented its 2024 Business Leadership award to Paul Geaney, President & Chief Commercial Officer at Avolon. Previous honorees include Adrian Jones, Chairman and Co-Head, Global Private Equity, Goldman Sachs; Stan McCarthy, former Chief Executive, Kerry Group; Michael Dowling, President and Chief Executive at Norwell Health; and Bernie Brennan, President of the Royal Dublin Society.
Guests enjoyed an in-depth interview of Mr. Geaney by Brian Ruane, Global Head of Clearance with BNY Mellon and Board member of the Partnership. Chairman of the Partnership Michael T. Clune presented Paul with the Business Leadership Award, saying: “We would like to congratulate Paul Geaney on his innovation and contribution to Irish business, and to the global aircraft leasing industry. This award is truly deserved and is a testament to Paul’s ingenuity, and hard work. He now shares the Irish American Partnership Business Leadership Award with some of the titans of global commerce.”
A founding member of the Avolon team in 2010, Mr. Geaney was appointed as Avolon’s Chief Commercial Officer in July 2021, adding the role of President in July 2022. He had previously held Head of Americas, Head of OEM, and Chief Risk Officer roles. A Dublin native, Geaney holds a Bachelor in Economics and Politics from Trinity College Dublin, and served on the Board of the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading.
“I’m very grateful to the Irish American Partnership for this award, which I accept on behalf of the Avolon team, whose amazing efforts have built us into one of the world’s leading aviation finance companies. We take great pride in using our expertise, our capital and our orderbook of new aircraft to support our customer airlines in facilitating the social and economic benefits of air travel. The Partnership’s philanthropic work funding education, community development and peace initiatives in Ireland is hugely important and all involved are to be commended for their ongoing support.”
2024 Honoree Paul Geaney
Partnership supporters also welcomed thoughtful remarks by Consul General of New York, Helena Nolan and Tadhg Leader of Leader Kicking, an organization supported by the Partnership that creates a pathway for young Irish athletes to access a college education in the United States.
Special thanks to our Co-Chairs Brian Ruane, Global Head of Clearance and Collateral Management with BNY Mellon and Board member of the Partnership, Tommy Dwyer, and Sean Clune, President of Clune Construction New York, and to our wonderful Host Committee and generous Sponsors who support the work of the Partnership year after year.
Together, we invest in the future of Ireland – the young people, the culture, and the ideas that are writing the next chapter in Irish history.
Ní neart go chur le chéile – we are stronger together.
