Declan Bolger

Declan Bolger was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Irish Life Group in February 2020. He oversees the group's retirement, protection, investment, health, advisory and wellbeing businesses, which support 1.6 million Irish people. He is a fellow of the Society of Actuaries in Ireland and a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries (UK). He is also a council member of the German-Irish Chamber of Industry and Commerce.

Prior to joining Irish Life, Bolger was Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of Canada Life Assurance Europe plc (CLE), appointed in 2009. He joined Canada Life in 1997 and was part of the founding team responsible for the launch of Canada Life into the German market in 2000. In his role at CLE, he held senior positions in Product Development, Finance and Actuarial areas, including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Actuary of Canada Life Assurance Europe Limited. Under his leadership, the company more than doubled in size to become one of the leading companies in the German broker market.

In March 2025, Financial Services Ireland appointed Bolger as its new chair. He had been an FSI board member since 2019 and was appointed vice-chair in 2023.

Career history

• Chief Executive Officer, Irish Life Group (February 2020–present)
• Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer, Canada Life Assurance Europe plc (2009–2020)
• Senior roles in Product Development, Finance and Actuarial areas, Canada Life Assurance Europe (1997–2009), including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Actuary
• Founding team member, Canada Life Germany launch (2000)

What Declan Bolger could bring to Irish Life Group: Bolger's deep expertise in actuarial science, combined with his proven track record of scaling operations and doubling the size of Canada Life Europe's German business, positions him to drive innovation and growth in Irish Life's complex, multi-line financial services portfolio. His 27-year tenure in life insurance and pension products, coupled with his ability to navigate both product development and financial management, suggests capacity to balance growth with prudent risk management for the country's largest life and pensions group.