Roddy grew up in an Olympic household with his father Dave having competed in the shot-put at the 1948 Olympics and was press attaché in both Barcelona and Atlanta games.
He was former CEO/current Chair of Wilson Hartnell (WH), Ireland’s largest communications firm and one of the most successful firms in the global Ogilvy/WPP group. This Includes the WH sport division which is responsible for many of the largest Irish sport sponsorships/commercial partnerships such as the Guiness All-Ireland Hurling Championships.
Roddy is the Strategic comms advisor to NGBs including crisis communications.
He led comms/PR around major new pieces of sporting infrastructure including both Croke Park and Aviva Stadium redevelopments. Also the initial conception of the National Sports Campus, now SI Campus.
Roddy has a long-standing relationship with the sports sector which led to joining the Federation of Irish Sport (FIS) Board and was subsequently elected as FIS Chair in 2017, working alongside current CEO Mary O’Connor through a number of critical years – years which saw the creation of Ireland’s first/current National Sports Policy. Other key projects developed during FIS Chair tenure include the 20×20 Women in Sport campaign, the Volunteer in Sport and Sport Industry Awards.
| Skill Set | Detail |
|---|---|
| Financial | Financially managed the development/growth of WH as Ireland’s largest comms firm. Chair of FIS and Board member of Gymnastics Ireland – both roles that require keen understanding of financial management/oversight. |
| Legal | As CEO/Chair of WH gained in depth knowledge of legal requirements of company operation, contract negotiations re sponsors/clients. As Chair/Board member of both FIS and Gymnastics Ireland have a detailed understanding of legal re NGB operation. |
| Risk / Compliance | In depth understanding from position as WH Chair/CEO plus FIS Chair and Gymnastics Ireland Board member. |
| Sports Administration | Position as FIS Chair enabled me to gain an in depth understanding through regular engagement with Irish NGBs as FIS members. Having served 5 years on Gymnastics Ireland Board I also have an in depth understanding of its operation. |
| Governance | Detailed understanding of corporate governance as former CEO and current chair of WH, former Chair of FIS and current Gymnastics Ireland Board member. This includes the SI governance code. |
| Information Technology | Understanding of how IT systems are critical to efficient and successful operation through WH (comms/digital media) through to Gymnastics Ireland (new membership management system in development). |
| High Performance Sport | Top-line understanding through Board monitoring regarding the evolution of the Gymnastics Ireland HP system through the evolution & delivery of the GI HP Strategy which delivered Ireland’s first gymnastics Olympic Champion at Paris 2024. |
| Commercial / Marketing | In depth understanding and industry leading skill set through career as former CEO/current chair of WH, in particular through the sport division having worked on some of the largest commercial sport projects in Ireland. |
| Human Resources | As former CEO/Chair of WH, former Chair of FIS and current GI Board member I have detailed & direct understanding/experience re HR development and management within a number of organisations including 2 sport sector specific organisations. |