ANNE O’LEARY

 

Anne O’Leary has been CEO of Vodafone since 2013 and has been steadfast in her backing of the company’s position as one of the main commercial partners of sport in Ireland.

In 2016 the brand became the principal commercial partner of the IRFU and the Irish National Team.  That partnership was extended for another four years in 2019.

In 2020 the gain line of Rugby was crossed again with the main sponsorship of the British and Irish Lions for their trip to South Africa in 2021.  Also this year the brand has been the main backer of the Women’s InterPro’s enabling live free to air coverage of the games for the first time.

O’Leary spoke powerfully when she joined us for the 2019 Sport for Business Women in Sport Conference at the studios of RTÉ.  Alongside Sarah Keane and Sinéad Heraty, she was inspiring and challenging in equal measure.  A real pleasure to interview.

She is an active participant in sport as well, taking part in August in the Goal CEO Cycle Challenge.

As one of Ireland’s most prominent business leaders, she is a strong advocate for the ability of women to meet any challenge.  We are fortunate that she has always turned that same energy to promoting sport for men, women and everyone.

 

 

Check out the others who have so far joined the list right here.

 

 

 

This is the ninth edition of our Sport for Business listing of 50 Women of Influence in Irish Sport.

We are proud to do so this year with a new partner in AIG, an organisation that have pledged their commitment to equality in their partnerships with Gaelic Games, Tennis, Golf and more, for whom “Effort is Equal” and with whom we have ambitious plans to extend the reach of this annual celebration of the Women who are making a difference.

They are drawn as before from the worlds of leadership, partnership, storytelling and performance.

We began this journey in 2013 when challenged that we would never be able to produce a list of twenty Influential Women in Irish Sport. The 20 stretched to 30, then 40 and 50 and it still does not do justice to the talent that is out there.

This year once more, to keep things fresh we will introduce at least 30 per cent of fresh names from last year. That will be the hardest part to have some names replaced but if it was too easy it would be of less value.

The list we will build over the coming weeks is a snapshot of those women who are making a mark on how sport is played, consumed, grown and delivered.

They are part of making the role of women in sport unexceptional by being exceptional in what they do.

Recognition of their contribution is rarely asked for but is fully deserved, and we want your help in identifying those who you feel should be among them.

We will start to publish the first of this year’s list on Sport for Business next week, and share them for all across social media in parallel.

So, who do you think should be on the list for 2021?

 

“A powerful and influential network of information and collaboration”

 

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Sport for Business Partners