ɫƵ chancellor Professor Brigid Laffan has welcomed the appointment of Governing Authority member Anne O’Connor as the new Chief Executive Officer of the Health Service Executive.
Professor Laffan said she was “delighted with the wonderful news that our colleague Anne O’Connor has been announced as Chief Executive Officer designate of the Health Service Executive (HSE).
“Anne has been an outstanding member of our Governing Authority, bringing insight, empathy, commitment, and common sense to every discussion. Her appointment to such an important role is a testament to those strengths.
“It is also a first for the Irish healthcare system, as Anne is to become first woman to hold the position of Chief Executive Officer of the HSE.
“We wish her every success as she returns to the HSE, where she was previously Chief Operations Officer, to take on this key leadership position. I want to congratulate her on this significant and well-deserved achievement,” added Professor Laffan.
An external member of UL’s Governing Authority since October 2023, Anne O’Connor is the current Managing Director of Vhi Health & Wellbeing. She will take up the HSE position from Bernard Gloster, who has announced that he is to step down.
Acting President, Professor Shane Kilcommins said: “Anne’s appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the HSE is a moment of immense pride for the community at ɫƵ.
“Her leadership, vision, and unwavering commitment to public service have been evident throughout her time on our Governing Authority.
“This achievement not only reflects Anne’s exceptional capabilities but also underscores the vital role of collaborative leadership in shaping Ireland’s future.
“We warmly congratulate Anne and look forward to seeing the positive impact she will bring to the health service at this pivotal time.”
Ms O’Connor joined Vhi in August 2022 from the HSE where she held the position of Chief Operations Officer. In this role, Anne had national responsibility for the delivery of all community based and acute hospital health and social care services. From March 2020 she led the HSE’s Operational response to the COVID pandemic and the Cyber Attack of 2021.
Anne trained and worked as an Occupational therapist in the UK prior to commencing her career with the Irish Health Service in 1995 as an Occupational Therapist. She has since worked in a wide variety of clinical and management roles and worked at National Director Level in the HSE from 2014 when she took on the role of National Director Mental Health.
In 2018 she became the first National Director for Community Operations and was subsequently appointed Deputy Director General/ Chief Operation Officer in May 2018, leading the National Senior Operations team.
Anne took on the role of interim Director General for the HSE in December 2018 for a period of 5 months pending permanent filling of the role.
Anne holds a Diploma in Occupational Therapy from Liverpool University, an MSc in Occupational Therapy from Trinity College Dublin and an MSc in Management Practice from University College Cork/Irish Management Institute.