Board appoints Eddie O’Brien as CEO designate.
16th February 2009. Neil O’Leary, Chairman of Topaz has announced that Danny Murray will retire as Chief Executive Officer [CEO] of the company with effect from the 31st March next. O’Leary has confirmed that Eddie O’Brien, the company’s Chief Finance Officer [CFO], has been appointed to succeed Murray as CEO.
Murray was appointed CEO just prior to the acquisition of the Irish fuels business of Shell by the newly created Topaz in June 2005. Within twelve months he led the company to the successful conclusion of that transaction and the subsequent acquisition of the Irish fuels and convenience store businesses of Statoil to create the largest fuels business in the country and one of the largest networks of convenience stores. Since then the two businesses have been seamlessly merged and a year ago, Murray led the rebranding of this network to Topaz in one of the largest and most successful marketing exercises ever undertaken in Ireland.
Speaking today, Murray said that with the successful establishment of Topaz as the largest fuels and convenience store brand in the country he had decided the time was right to move on; “The deals have been done, the merger completed and the new brand established so I feel this is the perfect time for me to take my leave of the business and leave the floor for the next generation of managers to take the business forward again. The last four years have been amongst the most fulfilling of my career and I want to acknowledge in particular the tremendous support I’ve enjoyed from all the staff of Topaz and its predecessors [Shell and Statoil], all our dealers and distributors, our shareholders and of course our customers. It is a matter of great pride that we’ve established Irish ownership of the largest fuels and convenience business in the country for the first time ever. I know that the business will go on to further success in the months and years ahead.”
Neil O’Leary, Chairman, paid tribute to Murray; “Danny has played a critical role in bringing Topaz from an idea to its current market leading position. He leaves the company in excellent shape and well poised for further growth and development. On behalf of the Board I want to wish Danny and his wife, Mags, every happiness in the years ahead.
The Board has confirmed that Chief Finance Officer, Eddie O’Brien, has been appointed as CEO designate and will succeed Murray on the 31st March.
O’Brien has held some of the most senior positions in the European fuels business. He joined Topaz in January 2008 from Statoil Hydro ASA, having held the positions of Vice President Finance and Vice President Retail Operations within Energy & Retail Europe. Prior to his time in Norway, Eddie held a number of senior management positions with Statoil Ireland, having joined the company in 1995. Eddie is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
Announcing his appointment, O’Leary said “Eddie brings an unparalleled experience of the European fuels business to Topaz and he is perfectly positioned to guide the company’s development. The board looks forward to working closely with him on our ambitious plans over the coming months and years.”
Further Information:
Ray Gordon / Kieran Garry
MKC Communications
Ph: 01 7038600
Ph: 087 2417373 [Ray Gordon] / 087 2368366 [Kieran Garry].