Gary McGann

Gary McGann is one of Ireland's most accomplished business leaders, with extensive experience across executive and non-executive director roles in major organizations. McGann has been appointed as the first independent chair of New Stadium DAC, the company that operates the Aviva Stadium in Dublin on behalf of the IRFU and the FAI. He is an FCCA and holds a BA from University College Dublin and a master's degree from Trinity College Dublin.

His previous executive appointments include Chief Executive Officer roles at Smurfit Kappa Group Plc and Aer Lingus. Earlier in his career, he served as CEO of Gilbeys of Ireland and held senior positions including Group Financial Controller at Ericsson Ireland.

Career history

• Chair of Flutter Entertainment Plc (2014-2023): During which the company's enterprise value grew significantly from approximately €1 billion to €30 billion
• CEO of Smurfit Kappa Group Plc
• CEO of Aer Lingus
• CEO of Gilbeys of Ireland
• Group Financial Controller at Ericsson Ireland

McGann currently serves as chair of Sicon Ltd, the Irish subsidiary of Aon plc, chair of Teneo's Ireland advisory board, and chair of Allegro.eu, a European ecommerce marketplace operator. What McGann could bring to Independent Chair of New Stadium DAC: McGann's proven track record in transforming large-scale organizations—most notably growing Flutter's enterprise value from €1 billion to €30 billion during his nine-year tenure as chairman—combined with his extensive governance expertise across sports, aviation, and multinational enterprises, positions him to drive strategic development and operational excellence for Aviva Stadium as it hosts major international sporting and cultural events leading into UEFA Euro 2028.