IBTS appoints new Chief Executive Officer

The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) has appointed Ms Orla O’Brien as its new Chief Executive Officer to replace Mr Andrew Kelly, who will retire in June. 

Ms O’Brien is currently CEO of LauraLynn, Ireland’s Children’s Hospice.

She began her career in healthcare in Ireland thirty years ago, training as a nurse in Crumlin’s Children’s Hospital where she went on to gain extensive experience in many management roles before joining the Department of Health’s Project Management Division at the time of its establishment.

In 2014 she was appointed to the role of Chief Operations Officer of the Children’s Hospital Group (CHG).  Ms O’Brien was executive lead on the development of organisational structures and the establishment of a transitional clinical directorate structure within the CHG.

IBTS Chairperson Ms Linda Hickey commented: “Andy Kelly has been a strong and effective leader of our organisation for the last twenty years, through periods of great change and development.

“The board believes that Orla will be an ideal successor for the next phase of the organisation’s development. Through her various roles she has managed a number of complex change agendas in different environments and has developed strong networks in the Department of Health and the HSE. We wish her well in her new role.”