Principal Connections Seeks CIO for Maxol Group

August 13, 2020 – Ireland-based executive search firm Principal Connections has been selected by Maxol Group to lead its search for a new chief information officer. Practice leader Darren McCabe is leading the assignment.

Reporting to the group CEO, the CIO will lead the company’s IT infrastructure across its retail network, manufacturing facilities, fuel card operations, head offices and other locations to fully align with evolving business priorities, and ensuring that Maxol achieves optimum competitive advantage from its investment in IT. The CIO will also be responsible for the strategic delivery of IT services for the company, managing the technical and architectural requirements in line with business growth.

“The role requires the capacity to identify and develop new opportunities as well as the ability to give experienced direction to deliver on key strategic and commercial objectives,” the search firm said. “The appointee will be responsible for empowering and developing the existing experience within the division.”

Privately owned by four generations of the McMullan family, Maxol Group is at the forefront of innovation in the Irish forecourt convenience, fuel cards and lubricants sectors, with a reputation for expertise in the mobility energy business. Maxol has a network of 232 service stations across Ireland.

Principal Connections said that suitably qualified, interested candidates should be experienced in operating at CIO, CTO, IT director or head of IT level from within the FMCG or retail sectors. The successful candidate will have a minimum of 10 years proven experience in technology transformation, cybersecurity, change management and effective delivery of complex projects, innovative technologies, and applications. In addition, candidates must be able to effectively communicate technical concepts and have strong leadership, strategic, organizational, stakeholder management and project management skills.

Principal Connections, the Irish arm of Agilium Worldwide, offers five interrelated talent acquisition and advisory services to private, public and non-profit organizations across Ireland: senior executive and professional search, public advertised selection, senior interim management, board and non-executive director recruitment, and a comprehensive suite of leadership consulting and assessment solutions. Mr. McCabe has served many of Ireland’s leading multinationals, public limited companies, SMEs and not-for-profit organizations across a broad variety of disciplines.

CIO Recruiting

In recent months, a number of organizations have turned to executive search firms to help them find top flight CIOs. Here are a few of the top assignments tracked by Hunt Scanlon Media:

Acertitude has recruited Justin Sheppard as CIO for Enlivant, one of the nation’s largest senior living owners and operators with a presence in 27 states across the U.S. Co-founder and managing partner Rick DeRose spearheaded the assignment. Acertitude’s search took 105 days. Mr. DeRose, who has a strong record of placing CIOs and IT leaders, collaborated closely with Enlivant’s president and chief operating officer Dan Guill, chief human resources officer Peter Smith and TPG Capital CIO advisor Ron Kim.

Sydney-headquartered search firm the Insight Group placed Michelle Rennie as the new CIO of the Royal Children’s Hospital. Ms. Rennie is a senior digital leader with over 15 years of IT management experience across large and complex matrix organizations. She has a proven track record of transforming critical teaching and learning processes into high quality online and mobile services. Previously, Ms. Rennie was director of technology, learning, teaching and research at RMIT University.

Rosenzweig & Company placed former Just Energy executive Ash Rajendra as CIO of the Supreme Cannabis Company, where he will focus on ensuring the organization is well prepared to execute on its next phase of growth. Partner Larry Chan led the assignment. Mr. Rajendra is an experienced information technology and business leader who has a deep understanding of vertically integrated products, including operating within a regulated environment.