Bank of Ireland has appointed Alan Hartley as head of customer products in its Commercial Business Division, a role focused on developing and delivering market-leading products and risk solutions to the bank's commercial and corporate customers. The appointment, announced in early July 2026, marks a significant move for Hartley from his previous leadership position within the retail business and signals the bank's intention to strengthen product development capabilities across its commercial operations.
Hartley takes the position following a career spanning nearly two decades at Bank of Ireland, during which he has held senior management positions across multiple business units. John Feeney, chief executive of Corporate and Commercial Banking, emphasized Hartley's breadth of experience in announcing the appointment. "His vast experience through roles across Group Treasury, Global Markets, Investor Relations, and Retail Ireland will help us deepen our customer relationships and support their financial needs and future growth ambitions," Feeney said. The bank did not disclose involvement of executive search firms in the appointment process.
Hartley joined Bank of Ireland's Retail Leadership team in 2018, serving as Director of Home Buying and previously holding the position of Commercial Director within the retail business. His career trajectory shows deep exposure to the bank's wholesale and distribution operations. According to professional records, Hartley holds an FCA qualification in accounting from the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, obtained between 1990 and 1993. Earlier in his career, he held senior roles in Bank of Ireland's Corporate and Markets division, including Head of Money Markets from 2008 to 2010 and Global Head of Wholesale Balance Sheet from 2010 to 2012.
Bank of Ireland is one of Ireland's largest diversified financial services groups, operating across retail, wealth and insurance, and corporate and commercial banking in both Ireland and the UK. The bank reported revenue of approximately 7.8 billion euros in 2023, with roughly 10,845 employees. The Commercial Business Division serves customers across six markets including Ireland, the UK, France, Germany, Spain, and the United States. Under the leadership of Myles O'Grady as group chief executive since November 2022, the bank has pursued a growth strategy anchored on its domestic market position while investing in digital capabilities and operational transformation.
Hartley's appointment reflects Bank of Ireland's broader organizational evolution within its corporate and commercial operations. The promotion from a retail leadership role to head of products within the commercial division suggests the bank is prioritizing cross-divisional talent mobility and leveraging expertise from its retail operations to enhance product strategy in higher-margin commercial businesses. This internal promotion approach may also signal confidence in Hartley's ability to translate retail product innovation and customer insight into solutions tailored for medium and large corporate clients, a competitive priority in Ireland's concentrated banking market.
