Fiona Tierney has been appointed as the new chair of the Irish Pensions Authority, effective 13 April 2026.

The decision to appoint Tierney was announced by the Minister for Social Protection, Dara Calleary, T.D. She will take over the five-year term from David Begg, who has been chair since January 2016.

Tierney brings extensive strategic and corporate governance expertise as well as experience in oversight, remediation and compliance in regulated industries.

She is also an experienced and professionally qualified chair and non-executive director, with multi-sectoral board experience from the private, public and not-for-profit sectors.

Tierney currently holds a Central Bank-approved PCF2B (Pre-Approval Controlled functions non-executive director) position on the Board of Wells Fargo Bank International UC, where she is a member of both the Risk Committee and the Nominations and Remuneration Committee.

Additionally, she serves as a member of the Council of the Institute of Directors in Ireland and as a non-executive director of Digital Manufacturing Ireland. She is a member of the Audit Committee of the Department of Justice, Home Affairs & Migration.

Her experience also includes serving as CEO of the Public Appointments Service and an ex officio member of the Board from 2012 to 2018.

Before that, she worked in HR consulting at Hay Group and Dalriada and served as head of performance and reward at Aer Lingus, where she also served as a trustee of the Superannuation Scheme.

Commenting on the appointment, Calleary said: “I am pleased to announce the appointment of Fiona Tierney as chair of the Pensions Authority. Fiona brings wide-ranging public sector, business and governance experience to the role, combined with a strong background in change management and strategy development.

“Fiona’s breadth of experience will prove invaluable as the Pensions Authority and the pensions sector adapts to a changing landscape driven by the continued consolidation of the market, enhanced supervision and a greater focus on coverage and adequacy in occupational pension schemes on foot of the roll-out of MyFutureFund.

"I wish Fiona every success in her role. I am confident she will be able to build on the pension reforms delivered in recent years to ensure that the vision of the Authority is delivered by having a pensions system where retirement savings are secure, well-managed, cost-efficient and easily understood, and which encourages pensions savings.”

Calleary also thanked Begg for “his excellent work and considerable achievements during his tenure”.

“This included guiding the Authority through significant change from the challenges associated with the funding of DB schemes post the economic crisis, to the implementation of a new supervisory approach under IORP II and the resulting significant consolidation of occupational pension schemes and the development of master trusts – all of which have served to enhance the pensions environment in Ireland to the benefit of pension scheme member," he said.

"I wish him every success in future endeavours.”

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