Whelan to step down at Eason

Conor Whelan is stepping down as managing director of Irish retailer Eason. Whelan will leave his post at the end of June, with Liam Hanly, currently Eason group finance, logistics and IT director, taking over as m.d.

Whelan has been Eason m.d. since 2009, turning around the bookselling chain from a €21m deficit that year to a profit of €1.2m in the year to January 2016. He is also the outgoing chairman of Retail Ireland.

In a statement, Eason said Whelan informed the Board of Eason of his intention to step down earlier this year, “following agreement with the board on the new Eason 2020 strategy and plan and the successful identification of a new managing director.”

Whelan, who will remain with the business for the next few months to ensure a smooth transition, said he had enjoyed his eight years there “with a tremendously talented team” and felt “confident the business is set up for continued success with both Liam at the helm and a new plan in place.”

(From left) Eason chairman James Osborne, incoming m.d. Liam Hanly and Conor Whelan.

Hanly joined Eason in 2010 and has previously held senior management positions in a number of Irish retail and wholesale businesses including McCabes Pharmacy and Xtravision. Eason chairman James Osborne said: “The board and I are very pleased to have someone of Liam Hanly’s calibre to take over from Conor Whelan as managing director of Eason. Liam Hanly brings a wealth of retail knowledge and experience of the business.”

He added: “Since his appointment as managing director in 2009, Conor Whelan has brought huge energy and commitment to the business. Together with Liam, the leadership team and the wider Eason team, he has led and successfully developed and implemented successive strategies that have transformed the business and the store estate, driven greater employee engagement and facilitated a significant new innovation programme, all of which has helped grow the Eason brand, market share and retail footprint across the island of Ireland.”