Kirby Group Engineering has announced that CEO Mark Flanagan will step down on 1 January 2025 after five very successful years in the role. As part of a planned and structured transition process, Henry McCann will step into the role of CEO, having spent the last five years as Group Operations Director at the Limerick-headquartered company.

Mark has successfully led the 60-year-old Kirby Group Engineering through an unprecedented period of profitable growth and international expansion, establishing it as a key leader in the international Mechanical & Electrical Engineering and Construction industry. Kirby now employs over 1,800 people and is on track to record turnover above €700m in 2024. Mark will continue supporting the company as Executive Director, supporting Kirby’s sustained growth.

Speaking as he approaches the latest milestone in his career, Mark said: “Change is a constant, and it creates exciting opportunities, which have put Kirby Group Engineering in a strong position. We believe it is well placed for the future thanks to our consistent approach to client service through the ‘Kirby Way’ and in structured and proactive planning. Nowhere is this approach more evident than in how we focus on having the right leadership and people in place through our succession planning, which aims to ensure we can lead in meeting the needs of our valued customers into the future.”

Henry McCann has played a pivotal role in Kirby’s expansion and the development of its organisational capabilities, notably leading the Kirby Way initiative. His unrelenting focus on delivery and the development of organisational capabilities have been at the core of his success.

Henry is determined that helping people reach their full potential will be a key priority for his term as CEO: “I am passionate about focusing on people and the further development of Kirby as a learning and teaching organisation. I have also developed a strong instinct for understanding and pre-empting our valued clients’ needs which is key to building sustainable partnerships that can deliver real value into the future.”

Kirby’s last eight years have been a stellar record of achievement and sustainable delivery and growth under the leadership of Jimmy Kirby and Mark Flanagan.  Jimmy continues in his role as Executive Chair and is leading the development of our South African office.

Focused succession planning is at the heart of Kirby’s recipe for success and Henry’s appointment and the other internal promotions in January 2025, reflect Kirby’s long-term commitment to and investment in structured talent management and career-pathing.