Laois man takes the reins at 'worldwide' leader of green building

Saint-Gobain Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Mountmellick man Kieran Holohan as its new Managing Director.

Mr Holohan, who now lives in Kilkenny, will begin his tenure as Managing Director on May 1, succeeding Pádraig Barry who is retiring. He is taking over at the top of a company that describes itself as a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures and distributes materials and services for the construction and industrial markets.

A former student of Ballyfin College have attended primary school in Mountmellick, the Laois man is a son of Paddy (deceased) and Bridie Holohan who still lives in the town. He is the brother of Rory and Barry, who is the chairperson of Sarsfield’s Ladies GFC.  Mr Holohan was involved in Mountmellick Athletic club and Mountmellick GAA. 

Kieran holds a Bachelor in Business Studies from the Atlantic Technological University and was recently awarded an MBA from the South East Technological Institute in 2022.

An all-round sports enthusiast, Kieran is a passionate Gaelic games and soccer fan, and currently enjoys mountain biking. He is also the vice chairperson of the development committee for his local football club, Mooncoin Celtic.  

Thanking his predessor for his "stellar work", the Laois man said he was delighted to be appointed Managing Director of Saint-Gobain Ireland

"As a key contributor to the construction of safe and sustainable buildings in Ireland, I have a huge passion for our organisation and its ability to do an enormous power for good. As a worldwide leader in light and sustainable construction, we have a key role to play in building a carbon-neutral economy in Ireland. I look forward to leading our exceptionally talented team to continued success and further growth as we play our part to ensure Irish buildings are efficient, safe, sustainable and great places to live and work.

"I will dedicate myself to ensuring the growth ambitions for the organisation are realised and that we build on our strengths to deliver the best possible service to our loyal customer base,” he said in a statement.

The company says that throughout his career at Saint-Gobain, Mr Holohan has been an integral part of the leadership team and has amassed extensive experience of the Irish construction market and the competitive dynamics that shape it.

In his new role as Managing Director,  he will be responsible for developing and executing business strategies for the Saint-Gobain brands Gyproc and Isover in Ireland. He will oversee the company’s executive team, manage the company’s business operations, as well as continuing to grow and enhance Saint-Gobain’s brand profile as leaders in the Irish building materials market. 

Saint-Gobain’s claims to have a long history in Irish construction is represented through its Gyproc & Isover businesses. It says Gyproc is the market leader in dry-lining, interior fit out and finishing while Isover is the market leader in mineral wool insulation, which combines into valued expertise in fire, energy, durability and sustainability.

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The company has been operating in Ireland since 1936, with operations in Kingscourt, Cavan and Magheracloone Monaghan and headquartered in Kilcarbery Dublin employing over 240 people. The company is a founding member of the Irish Green Building Council and accredited by the Top Employers Association.