An engineer by training and a leader by experience, Pat O’Doherty was Chief Executive of ESB from 2011 to 2021, having previously led each of ESB’s businesses during his earlier years. Pat led the organisation of 7,500 people through times of transformational change, with a deep sense of commitment to the success of the business and delivering on its purpose of service to customers and society. Pat now holds a number of nonexecutive leadership roles in the public and private sector.

Chair of Business in the Community Ireland

Chair of MaresConnect Limited

Board Member Mater Misericordia University Hospital

Chair of Eurelectric

Pat has a depth and breadth of leadership experience, built on a winning combination of engagement and intuitive understanding. Having led his own organisation through major and, at times, difficult change, he acutely appreciates the challenges leaders face and the joy of good outcomes. Pat brings a warm and generous approach to all his work, and the energy of continuous curiosity in finding ways to help leaders and organisations thrive.

Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Engineering from University College Dublin (UCD)

Senior Leadership Programme, IMD

Advanced Management Programme, Harvard Business School

Professional Certificate in Executive Coaching, Henley Business School

COACHING PHILOSOPHY

From the senior echelons of Irish industry, Pat O’Doherty brings his experience as the CEO of one of Ireland’s largest organisations to his coaching work. Pat has faced the challenges of senior leadership, during which he found working with an executive coach to be invaluable:

"As a leader, to stand in front of an organisation to give a message that is likely to have a big impact on people but is essential to the future success of the organisation, is personally very challenging. It is lonely in senior executive roles. The CEO faces both out and in, and that face must be congruent to both audiences – ultimately it is where accountability resides. My coach was a person with whom I could explore things which were on my mind and also to hold me accountable to myself in terms of the goals I set for myself as CEO."

Knowing the value of coaching and mentoring support, Pat is keen to offer that support onwards to senior leaders open to embracing the responsibility of delivering success for organisations and their people:

"My work with clients is based on a strong belief in the transformational role which individual and team leadership plays in creating the work environment for people to perform and thrive. I have been the beneficiary of great coaching both personally and in teams, and experienced its positive impact. As a coach, I am particularly interested in supporting people to grow as independent leaders, to develop solutions to their own issues and to develop their talents as best they can. It is my firmly held belief that great leaders are those who work to bring their people with them, and it is then that they can achieve extraordinary things together."