Dr Colin Hunt

Background

Dr Colin Hunt holds a PhD in Economics from Trinity College Dublin and degrees in Commerce and Economics from University College Cork. He is also a Chartered Bank Director and a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers. Hunt was appointed Chief Executive Officer of AIB Group and Executive Director on the AIB Board in March 2019.

Career History

• Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director, AIB Group (March 2019–present)
• Managing Director, Wholesale, Institutional & Corporate Banking Division, AIB (August 2016–March 2019)
• Managing Director, Macquarie Capital, leading development of business in Ireland (prior to 2016)
• Special Policy Adviser, Departments of Transport and Finance
• Research Director and Chief Economist, Goodbody Stockbrokers
• Head of Trading Research and Senior Economist, Bank of Ireland Group Treasury
• Country Risk Analyst, NatWest

Notable Achievements and Industry Recognition

Hunt was awarded Best Research Economist by the Finance Survey of Institutional Investors in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Under his leadership, AIB became only the second bank in the world to create a gender-balanced executive committee. AIB was included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook, ranking within the top 15% of companies for sustainable practices. He set a target in late 2020 for green or climate-transition lending to account for 70 per cent of all new lending within a decade. UCC awarded Hunt an Honorary Doctorate of Economic Science on 27 March 2023 for his contributions to public life and private business.

Hunt was appointed President of Ibec for 2025 to 2026, the Irish business lobby group representing commerce across the nation. He served as President of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland for 2021–2022 and is a Board member of The Ireland Funds, Ireland Chapter.

What Hunt could bring to his role as AIB Chief Executive

Hunt's diverse background—spanning risk management, treasury, equity and debt capital markets, lending, and corporate advisory—positions him to drive integrated strategy at AIB. His extensive experience across financial services, economics and public policy enables leadership on climate finance, regulatory adaptation, and digital transformation. His demonstrated commitment to gender equality and sustainability culture-building positions AIB as a values-driven institution in a competitive sector. His academic engagement as Adjunct Professor at UCC reinforces thought leadership on sustainable finance and responsible business practice.