Cairn has announced five senior leadership appointments, further strengthening the capabilities that will support the company’s continued growth and long-term ambitions.
The appointments span finance, communications, legal, procurement & commercial, and digital transformation, reflecting Cairn’s continued investment in the leadership capability needed to support a growing business. They are being made during a period of significant momentum for the business, with Cairn’s housing output increasing by 60% year-on-year, in the first half of 2026.
The appointments to key roles are:
· Elaine O’Brien, Director of Finance & Treasury has built an international career in commercial finance, with senior finance and commercial leadership roles across listed and multinational businesses, including Grafton Group and L’Oréal.
· Olivia Buckley, Director of Communications, joins Cairn with a strong track record in strategic communications and reputation management, having held senior roles with Aer Lingus, Banking & Payments Federation Ireland and the Irish Tax Institute.
· Zoe Ennis, Head of Legal, has advised complex organisations on legal and commercial matters across both private practice and in-house leadership roles. Her experience includes Arthur Cox and Amazon Web Services, where she served as Senior Investment and Acquisition Manager.
· Sean Gavin, Director of Commercial & Procurement has spent more than two decades leading commercial and operational teams in residential development. His career includes senior leadership roles with Berkeley Group in the UK and most recently Managing Director (South) at London Square.
Announcing the appointments, Cairn Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer Madeleina Loughrey Grant, who also leads People and Talent in the company,said, “As Cairn continues to grow, attracting exceptional people is one of the most important investments we can make. I’m delighted to welcome Elaine, Olivia, Zoe, Sean and Hazel to the team. Each brings outstanding perspectives and leadership experience that will complement the strong talent we already have across the business.”
The diversity of experience and perspectives they bring will make us a stronger organisation. I’m excited to see new senior members work alongside colleagues across the business as we continue learning, evolving and building for the future”, concluded the Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer.
