Executive Board Members
David Kavanagh
Managing Director
David is a Qualified Financial Advisor, Pension Trustee Practitioner and holds a Bsc in Business & Finance. He has worked in a number of different roles in pensions in his 20+ years in the industry. He began his career as head of administration and client servicing for a large self-directed pension provider and was involved in the introduction of a variety of self-directed structures to the market during that time.
He then spent a number of years working in the advisory side of the market providing pension and investment advice to high net worth clients, which led him to establish Quest Capital Trustees as he believed that a purely service based self-directed pension provider was missing in the market. He now aims to focus on the continued growth of Quest Retirement Solutions Ltd whilst maintaining the highest level of service to you and your clients.
When he is not in the office, David is drawn to the outdoors and enjoys cycling, hiking, skiing and sea swimming (in the warmer months!). He is a keen white-water kayaker and kayak instructor and loves nothing more than keeping an eye on the weather forecast and heading for the mountain rivers once the rain falls. He is one of the few people in Ireland who always has a smile on his face when it’s raining cats and dogs!
Paul Murray
Director
Paul qualified as an accountant in 1999 and as a tax consultant in 2002. He also holds a Diploma in Pensions from the Life Insurance Association (LIA), also awarded in 1999, and a Diploma in Trust and Estate Planning jointly awarded from the Law Society and Society of Trust & Estate Practitioners (STEP) in 2006.
He started his career in banking before moving to a Big Four accountancy firm and after several years he moved to the pensions industry and since then has held a number of senior management roles in his 20 + years in the industry. He has been co-author of the Irish Taxation Institutes book ‘Pensions: Revenue Law and Practice’ since circa 2006 and has written and lectured extensively in all areas of pensions.
When he is not in the office, you may find Paul enjoying Italian Cuisine on the Amalfi Coast, or cheering on Leinster Rugby down his local!
Patrick Gibbons
Independent Non-Executive Director
A solicitor by profession, Patrick spent most of his 15-year executive career in senior compliance roles in life and pensions in companies such as Allianz, Scottish Provident, New Ireland and Royal Liver before spending the years since 2011 as a full-time Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) on boards in financial services and on State Boards.
Patrick served on the previous Board and chaired it since 2018, giving him the advantage of an excellent knowledge of the Firm, its brokers and customers and enabling him to lead a smooth transition at Board level with the new management team at Quest Retirement Solutions Ltd, some of whom he has known for many years and worked successfully with in the past. Strategically minded, Patrick has a strong commercial focus with unrelenting emphasis on delivery of strategy, prudent financial oversight and effective risk management, the cornerstones of good governance in any organisation.
In his personal life, he is passionate about history and, revealing his sense of humour, he says one of his favourite ‘sports’ is watching general election count coverage on TV. His two daughters have helped him broaden his musical tastes past his comfort zone of the 1990s into the modern era. Indeed, he became quite the expert (for a time) on one of their favourite bands, One Direction, before they went on their ‘extended hiatus’ (i.e. broke up).
Tony McPoland
Independent Non-Executive Director
Tony is an experienced financial services executive with twenty five years’ experience, primarily in asset management and investment banking. After qualifying as a Chartered Accountant with PWC, Mr Mc Poland worked for ICS Building Society and Goodbody Stockbrokers. He spent the last 15 years of his executive career with BW Bank Ireland plc, LBBW Bank Ireland plc and LBBW Asset Management Ireland plc, and served ten years on the Board of Directors with executive responsibility for Finance, Operations, Risk and IT. He is a professional independent Director and has completed the Institute of Directors Chartered Director Programme. He is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a Chartered Director, and is also a Faculty Member of the Corporate Governance Institute. He holds a Bachelor of Business Studies degree from Trinity College, Dublin, and a Diploma in Professional Accounting from University College Dublin. He also completed the Advanced Management Programme in INSEAD.
Tony is married with two daughters which he calls ‘Cost Centre 1’ and ‘Cost Centre 2’, and lives in a petticoat republic where even the dog is a girl. Later this year, Tony will be combining his love of both rugby and wine when he travels to the Rugby World Cup in France.
Business Development Team
Brendan Ashby
Product Development Director
Originally from Zimbabwe, Brendan completed his degree as a BSc in Finance and Marketing from the University of Alabama in the United States. Brendan has over 17 years' experience in financial services and has extensive knowledge in pensions, investments and capital markets having held a number of senior positions in local and international financial institutions.
His role allows him to work closely with Financial Brokers to provide expertise and support for them and their clients in the ever evolving pension environment.
In his spare time Brendan is a keen surfer and enjoys the odd round of golf.
Deirdre Sheils
Head of Development & Investments
Deirdre joined Wealth Options in 2006 heading up the Exempt Unit Trust Services Division adding to the Wealth Options product portfolio. This niche service allows Ireland ‘s broker and financial advisor community to brand and promote their own bespoke funds.
In 2011, Deirdre became a broker consultant for Wealth Options Ltd. Before joining Wealth Options, Deirdre held senior roles within FBD Life & Pensions, Aon Consulting, and Merrion Stockbrokers from which she gained a variety of experience to help provide pension solutions to brokers and their clients. She doesn’t shy away from a challenge. She has completed the Irish Stock Exchange Registered Representative, QFA & RPA examinations.
When not in the office, Deirdre has two teenage boys keeping her on her toes, who she loves travelling with whether they like it or not!
Ian Smith
Business Development Manager
Ian has worked in the life and pensions industry for over 25 years. Starting his career as a Wealth Manager with Irish Permanent Life and Pensions, then joining Zurich as a Broker Consultant. After six years he joined Bank of Ireland Life as a Pensions Manager. In 2017 Ian joined Black Bee as a Business Development Manager in the Munster area where he built up a very strong support base with the Brokers.
Ian brings this wealth of knowledge and experience to Quest Retirement Solutions, where he believes the self-directed pension market is still at its very early growth stage and offers real opportunity for Financial Brokers to build strongly diversified portfolios for their clients.
When he is not working, you will find Ian enjoying a round of golf or engrossed in the latest Ross O’Carroll Kelly book!
Management Team
Deirdre O'Hanlon
Head of Operations
Deirdre started her financial career 25 years ago in retail banking before making the move to the world of pensions. During her 16 years in the pension industry, she has worked in the areas of Customer Service, Compliance, Risk and Operations. During her time in Wealth Options Ltd, Deirdre has overseen the introduction and ongoing management of our three pension products – the ARF, the PRB and the PRSA, which allowed her to develop a wide range of experience and technical knowledge while building a team of dedicated, hard-working colleagues.
She is a Qualified Financial Advisor (QFA) through the Institute of Bankers and holds a Bachelor of Financial Services (BFS) from University College Dublin and a Chartered Banker designation (CEB).
Outside of the office, Deirdre enjoys family walks on the beach, singing in the car and regular reflexology sessions, whenever she can fit them in!
Sabrina McDonnell
Head of Marketing & Communications
Sabrina joined the team in 2011 after graduating top of her class with a BBS in Business and Management from Maynooth University. It didn’t take long for her to realise that a career in marketing was the right path for her. Sabrina now assumes overall responsibility for the development and implementation of the marketing strategy for new and existing products.
Her expertise includes content marketing, branding, sponsorship, event management and digital marketing.
Sabrina is a Qualified Financial Advisor and also holds a Professional Diploma Digital Marketing.
Outside of the office, Sabrina loves crafting and is a rugby, motor and shopping enthusiast. After all, life must have a balance!
Sinead Gannon
Assistant Manager
Sinead is a highly motivated professional with 20 years’ experience working within the Financial Services sector. Previous to joining the company in 2011, Sinead held roles in brokerages in Dublin and Kildare and as such understands what’s important to our Financial Brokers and clients, and is committed to providing excellent customer service to same.
Sinead holds a QFA, BComm from UCD, Certificate in Compliance and Certificate in General Insurance (IOB).
Outside of the office Sinead, likes to spend time with her family and friends.
Sinead Moore
Assistant Manager
Sinead has over 16 years’ experience in administration and management roles across many different industries.
Sinead is a Qualified Financial Advisor QFA, and also holds a Diploma in Retirement Planning and a Diploma in HR Management.
Something that you may not know about Sinead, she holds a Diploma in Acupuncture & Traditional Chinese Medicine & Certificate in Clinical Medicine awarded by Lansdowne College of Acupuncture & Complementary Medicine in 2010.
Outside of the office, Sinead has a keen passion for all things GAA and has played Camogie for the Kildare County Team.
