ESB Board Members
Our Board comprises 12 members appointed by the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. Board members include the Chair, the Chief Executive, six independent non-executive directors and four elected worker directors.
The Board Members:
- bring independent and objective scrutiny to the oversight of the organisation;
- are challenging when necessary while being supportive to the delivery of organisational strategy and objectives;
- are equipped to offer considered advice on the basis of sound judgement and experience; and
- make a time commitment to their work commensurate with their role.
The appointment and remuneration of Board members (including the Chair) is determined by the Minister for Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation and the Minister for Climate, Energy and the Environment. Under the “one person/one salary rule,” the Chief Executive does not receive a board fee. Terms and conditions are set out in Board member’s Warrants of Appointment.
Paddy Hayes
Appointment and Term
08.03.2022 - 07.03.2027
Career Experience
Appointed Chief Executive in August 2021. Before this, held the position of Managing Director of ESB Networks from 2018 and Executive Director, Generation and Wholesale Markets from 2012 to 2018. Holds a Master’s Degree in Engineering from University College Dublin, an MBA from the University of Warwick and a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland. Paddy worked in the steel industry in the UK before moving to the energy sector in 1999 to lead the Synergen joint venture between ESB and Statoil.
External Appointments
Member of the Board of Directors of the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) and Chair of the Open Doors Initiative.