Tag Archives: Rose Hynes

Manchester born Matthew Thomas has been appointed as the new chief executive for Shannon Group plc. With 20 years’ experience in the industry, Mr Thomas (43) joins the Shannon Group from the Vantage Airport Group, where he is currently chief commercial officer. Mr Thomas, who has worked with the Vantage Airport Group since 2008, has been involved in the majority of Vantage’s thirty airport projects across four continents, including nineteen significant airport transitions. As chief commercial officer, he has been responsible for leading the implementation of the group’s business development strategy, most recently in New York, where he played a leading role in winning the $4 billion redevelopment contract of the Central Terminal at La Guardia Airport, the largest public-private-partnership in the United States. Rose Hynes, chairman of Shannon Group, said “Mr Thomas brings to the role a deep knowledge of the aviation industry combined with significant commercial experience.” The Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Paschal Donohoe, said,“Matthew Thomas takes over …

A Shannon Group delegation is the United States this week attending a number of high-level political and business events to promote the wider region for inward investment and tourism. Representatives are attending events in Washington, Boston, New York and Philadelphia over the course of three days. The delegation is led by chairman Rose Hynes, who will head up the St Patrick’s Day promotion with Shannon Group chief commercial officer, Andrew Murphy and Shannon Group head of marketing, Marie Slattery. Among the high level events attended by Ms Hynes was the St Patrick’s Day Breakfast at Vice President Joe Biden’s residence, at which he singled out Shannon for special attention in his address.She also attended the New York Stock Exchange St Patrick’s Day bell ringing event with a host of Irish and US business leaders. This afternoon (Wednesday,local time Washington) will attend the official St Patrick’s Day reception with President Barak Obama in the White House. Ms Hynes said,“Vice President Joe …

Shannon Airport has achieved growth again in 2015, with its passenger numbers for last year showing a 5% increase on 2014. This is the third successive year of passenger number increases at the airport. 2015 passenger numbers grew to 1,714,872 – the first year since 2010 that the airport has exceeded the 1.7m figure. The 2015 year figure is up over 22% on the total passenger numbers since the airport became independent in 2013.  Excluding transit passenger numbers, the growth in terminal passengers since separation is 25%. The biggest growth area over the three year period since independence for Shannon has been on its European services, which have more than doubled (108%) since the airport was made independent in 2013. The biggest-spending inbound tourism market, the US, has, meanwhile, enjoyed a 12% increase since separation. Commenting on the results, Shannon Group plc Chairman Rose Hynes said, “After the high of 2014 when we achieved 17% growth thanks to a range …

A LITTLE over three years ago, Rose Hynes was asked to chair a working group on Shannon Airport, which was having its worst year since the 1980s. She was subsequently appointed chairman of Shannon Group and has been at the helm as the new entity has made a solid start, with passenger numbers growing again after years of decline. When Shannon was under the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) structure, there were frequent complaints that its interests were way down the list of priorities but some felt the financial protection of being part of a wider group offered a level of protection. Separation working Now, Ms Hynes believes splitting it from the wider group has been the major factor in the ending of the long decline. “I think it was a hugely positive thing that the Government took the step and set up the taskforce because, that time, the numbers were going only one way – collapsing. I think if Shannon …

DESPITE Shannon Airport’s much vaunted recovery, Shannon Group is about to seek redundancies from staff, with talks between management and unions set to begin next week. Shannon Group is a commercial semi state, with Shannon Airport as its core and also encompassing Shannon Commercial Enterprises (formerly Shannon Development)Shannon Castle Banquets and Heritage Limited (formerly Shannon Heritage) along with the International Aviation Services Centre. In a statement to the Clare Champion on Wednesday evening Shannon Group claimed that the redundancies are required to help its competitive position. “The necessity to address the cost base of the Shannon Group business units has been known for some time. In recent times it has been referenced in the Shannon task force report and subsequent annual reports. We are exploring options to address this including a voluntary severance scheme. This will make for a more sustainable business model going forward.” No details of what terms will be offered to staff looking to depart have been …

Shannon Group chairperson, Rose Hynes has launched a stinging broadside at critics who are bemoaning Shannon Airport’s dramatic growth. In what could be perceived as a swipe at Fianna Fáil leader, Michéal Martin, Ms Hynes said she focuses on earning market share every day in Shannon, instead of “moaning, whining and blaming everybody else”. Deputy Martin recently claimed in the Dáil that deals being offered by Shannon Airport to grow traffic with airlines such as Ryanair, “do not add any value to the country”. A special award for service to tourism was presented to Ms Hynes at the third annual Irish Hotels’ Federation Mid-West Fundraising Gala Ball in the Greenhills Hotel, Limerick recently. Shannon branch chairperson of the Irish Hotels’ Federation, Elaina Fitzgerald-Kane, said Ms Hynes is responsible for a “monumental turnaround” in the airport’s fortunes, which is revitalising tourism across the region. In 2013, the first full year of operation since becoming an independent entity, the airport succeeded in …

THE Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were welcomed as they arrived in Ireland by Shannon Group Chairman Rose Hynes, CEO Neil Pakey, Chairman of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Clare T.D. Pat Breen and Deputy Cathaoirleach of Clare County Council Joe Cooney. Ms Hynes said that she took the opportunity to congratulate them on the birth of Princess Charlotte earlier this month. “We were delighted to welcome the Prince and Duchess here to Shannon and it was another very important day for us at the airport. Prince Charles was very relaxed and was looking forward to his visit. “He was very friendly and warm. He was only here for a brief time on arrival but I did get to congratulate him on the birth of his granddaughter Princess Charlotte. He was like any grandfather, very proud. He said ‘that’s so kind; it’s wonderful that it’s a girl’.” Prince Charles also noted in the conversation his …

China’ Premier Li Keqiang received a warm welcome at Shannon Airport on Sunday at at the start of a two-day visit to Ireland. Premier Li and his wife Professor Cheng Hong were greeted on arrival by Minister for Finance Michael Noonan; Shannon Group chairman Rose Hynes; CEO Neil Pakey, Irish Ambassador to China, Paul Kavanagh,;Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to Ireland Jianguo Xu and Deputy Pat Breen. Premier Li, accompanied on the visit by eight Chinese government ministers, travelled on to Headford to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny on at local farm. Later they had a series of meeting at Ashford Castle. f Minister Noonan said, “It’s a very important visit because Premier Li is on the way to an extensive visit in South America and as part of that they have decided to stop over in Ireland. We are particularly pleased that he has chosen to stop over in Shannon. “We would also like to …