Ireland CHRO Index 2026

As organisations navigate transformation, talent disruption, and cultural change, the CHRO has emerged as a critical strategic partner at the executive table. This Index highlights those leading that shift.

The CHRO Index exists to

• Celebrate excellence in people leadership
• Highlight strategic HR influence at board level
• Showcase innovation in culture, performance, and transformation

Who it’s for

• CHROs and senior HR leaders

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking CHROs who demonstrate exceptional leadership and measurable impact.

Key criteria include

• Strategic Impact – Contribution to overall business performance
• Board-Level Influence – Active role in executive decision-making
• Culture & Performance – Building high-performing, engaged organisations
• Transformation Leadership – Leading change across people, systems, and structures
• Innovation in HR – New approaches to talent, wellbeing, and workforce strategy

Judging Panel

Our independent judging panel is composed of senior leaders, industry experts, and advisors with deep experience across HR, business strategy, and governance.

They ensure a rigorous, fair, and credible selection process. Please see our judging panel below.

Peter Goethuys

Peter is a Partner in the Global Healthcare & Life Sciences Practice at Odgers, based in Zurich Odgers Switzerland. He leads C-suite searches, including CEO appointments, for large and mid-sized biopharma companies, biotech firms, and private equity clients across Switzerland and Western Europe.

In addition to his executive search work, Peter advises organisations on succession planning, talent assessment, and leadership development.

Before transitioning into executive search, Peter spent over 30 years in corporate leadership roles, including Chief Talent Officer and Global HR Leader at Sanofi, Novartis, and Unilever.

Karin Bastin

Karin leads the Leadership Advisory Practice for Odgers across EMEA, operating from both Brussels and Paris. She is responsible for advising senior leaders and organisations on leadership development, organisational design, and talent strategy, with a strong emphasis on caring and courageous leadership. Karin brings over two decades of international HR leadership experience, including senior roles at GE HealthCare. Her career has spanned EMEA and the US, where she led major transformation projects, employee engagement strategies, and executive development initiatives. At Odgers, she partners with executive teams, ExCos, and Boards to accelerate performance through tailored leadership development programmes and cultural transformation initiatives.

Known for her strategic insight, empathy, and drive for sustainable impact, Karin is a certified executive coach and an Executive Director with the John Maxwell Team. She is also Vice-Chair of the Human Capital Committee at AmCham Belgium and a sought-after keynote speaker on inclusive and human-centred leadership.

Áine Hurley

Áine is a senior member of the Board Practice in the London office, where she also leads the People & Culture Practice globally. Her team is responsible for recruiting CHROs/CPOs as well as experts in Talent, Recognition & Reward, Employee Relations, Organisation Effectiveness, HRIS, Transformation and Leadership Development.

The People & Culture Practice works with a wide range of FTSE 350 and Fortune 500 clients, as well as private equity backed, founder led and family-owned businesses. Sector coverage is broad and encompasses technology, retail, leisure, manufacturing, infrastructure, healthcare, travel, hospitality, business services, defence, construction, financial & professional services, gaming, energy and consumer goods.

Mark O'Donnell

Mark is Managing Partner of Odgers in Ireland. He specialises in high-level executive searches and appointments of senior management appointments from Head of Function to Board level across a range of industries and functions. He is particularly focused on assisting clients in the Consumer, Financial Services, Technology, Arts and Sports sectors. He is considered a leading consultant in the recruitment of all C suite positions in particular CEO, CFO, HRD, Marketing and Commercial Directors. Additionally, Mark leads our assessment practice where he is passionate about assisting clients to assess and develop their talent.

Mark began his career in Financial Services working with Global Asset Management in Dublin and Schroders Investment Bank in Australia. Prior to joining Odgers, Mark was a Director in the Consulting arm of KPMG and subsequently joined the Consulting Division of Deloitte as Director where he focused on Strategy, Operations and Human Capital.

Mark holds an honours degree in HRM and Accountancy while also holding Diplomas in Coaching, Learning and Development and Workplace Psychology. Mark is a certified Level A and B BPS practitioner. He has had a book on Succession Planning published and is a regular speaker at conferences as well as being a guest lecturer in University College Dublin’s Michael Smurfit Business School.

Methodology

The CHRO Index is built on a structured and transparent evaluation process. 

All submissions are assessed confidentially and objectively.

Key Dates

Nominations Open: 2^nd April, Nominations Close: 15^th May, Shortlisting Period: May

FAQ

Contact / Enquiries

For any questions or further information:

📧 Email: Annmarie.mccarthy@odgers.com

📧 Email: Ruth.likely@odgers.com

📧 Email: Mark.odonnell@odgers.com