Board of Directors

 

A board and committee structure is in place to oversee all aspects of Vhi’s activities. The Group Board has ultimate responsibility for oversight of the conduct and performance of the Vhi Group. The Group Board sets the strategic, risk appetite, risk management and cultural parameters for the Vhi Group and creates accountability around each of these parameters. It is also responsible for overseeing the delivery of the Vhi Group’s strategy through its health insurance and health services provision businesses.

 

The Vhi Group has established four committees to assist with its work:

  • Group Audit Committee
  • Group Risk Committee
  • Group Remuneration Committee
  • Group Nomination and Governance Committee

 

Greg Sparks

Chairperson (Independent Non-Executive Director)
Appointment to the Board: December 2014

Greg is both founder and former partner of RSM Farrell Grant Sparks. A Chartered Accountant, Greg has extensive experience and expertise in program planning, implementation and change management across the public and private sector. Greg has served on the board of Vhi since 2014, during this period he Chaired the Audit Committee. Greg is the Chair of VistaMilk SFI Research Centre and on the Board of the Irish Maternal Fetal Foundation Ltd. He has served on the Boards of Joe Duffy Motors, Digicel, The Irish Times and eir. He was a Director with Jigsaw the National Centre for Youth Mental Health and Chaired the Board of the Coombe Hospital for a number of years. 

Brian Walsh

Group CEO
Appointment to the Board: March 2015

Brian was appointed Group CEO of Vhi on March 1st 2023. He was appointed Interim Group CEO in May 2022 having joined as Chief Financial Officer in 2014. Prior to joining Vhi, Brian held Board and Executive roles in international financial services, telecommunications and FMCG industries in Europe and the USA. Brian is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a Chartered Director of the Institute of Directors. Brian chairs the Board of SOS Kilkenny CLG, a not-for-profit organisation supporting people with intellectual disabilities and autism. 

Peter Cross

Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: January 2021

Peter is the Managing Director of Trasna Corporate Finance, an advisory firm specialising in telecoms and infrastructure. Prior to establishing Trasna he worked in a number of senior management roles including as CFO of eircom and CFO of BT Openreach. Peter qualified as a Chartered Accountant and has worked in corporate finance at Barings and at Morgan Stanley. Peter is a non-executive director of Cubic Telecom, DAA plc and Arjun Infrastructure’s wind energy companies in Ireland. He previously chaired the audit committees of Ervia and of the HSE and served as trustee of the BT Pension Scheme. 

Mike Frazer

Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: June 2020

Mike is an actuary with over 30 years’ experience across the insurance industry including with Irish Life and Zurich Life. He was CEO of AXA Life Invest Reinsurance and Deputy Head of Insurance Supervision at the Central Bank of Ireland. Mike is a consultant with the insurance practice of William Fry Solicitors. Mike is an Independent Non-Executive Director of Kingfisher Insurance DAC. He served as the Honorary Secretary and as a Council member of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland 2018–2021.

Karen Furlong

Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: January 2021

Karen is an experienced Director with over 30 years’ experience across financial services, fintech, professional services and not for profits. Her expertise spans digital transformation, strategy, change, governance and risk accrued from her roles in companies including Standard Life, Educational Building Society, Prospectus Strategy Consultants, CUNA Mutual and Allianz. Karen is a Senior Independent Director of Triodos Bank UK in Bristol and the Chair of Remuneration Committee for Progressive Building Society in Belfast. She also serves on the Boards of the Personal Injuries Assessment Board and Health Committee of Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland. 

Mary Halton

Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: June 2020

Mary is a Chartered Accountant with international banking and insurance experience gained in Executive, Non-Executive, and advisory roles. She is an experienced board governance advisor with internationally published research on board behaviours and effectiveness. Mary is currently CFO with the Ei Electronics Group. Mary is an experienced Audit Committee Chair and has served on a number of Boards including the Northern Ireland Audit Office, and the Governing Body of Chartered Accountants Ireland. She is currently a lay member of the UK Copyright Tribunal. 

Dean Holden

Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: January 2018

Dean is a Chartered Certified Accountant. He spent 29 years with Bupa, growing, developing and leading Bupa’s operations across 12 countries including Spain and Saudi Arabia and latterly as Managing Director (MD) of Bupa Australia and New Zealand. He held a number of senior roles at Bupa including Group Financial Controller, MD of Bupa’s Asia Pacific Division, MD of Bupa’s International Division and International Markets Division. Dean was an Independent Non-Executive Director of the Skin and Cancer Foundation, Australia serving on the Board for nine years. Dean was also on the Board of Achieve Together UK for two years. 

Dr Paul Zollinger-Read

Independent Non-Executive Director
Appointment to the Board: November 2022

Paul is a qualified GP who pioneered the set up and rollout of the first Care Trusts in the UK. He was CEO of five NHS Primary Care Trusts, primary care advisor to the Kings Fund and Bupa’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Paul is the CMO for a diagnostic imaging company and a group providing aged care services. Paul was Non-Executive Director for Bupa in Saudi Arabia and an advisor to virtual GP organisations.

Correct as of 1st November 2023