WEALTH August 28, 2026 0 Comments

Why Mary Connaughton’s New Role as Retirement Planning Council Chair Could Change the Future of Your Financial Security Forever

Ever wonder who’s steering the ship when it comes to planning the golden years? Well, the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPC) just handed the helm over to Mary Connaughton, and let me tell you, this isn’t just a routine shuffle. After a decade under Raymond Kennedy’s steady guidance, Mary steps in with a treasure trove of experience—from psychology to strategic HR—ready to redefine what retirement support looks like. It’s not every day you see someone with such a rich background in both public service and private sector consulting take charge, especially someone who’s spent years helping workplaces and people flourish. Mary’s vision? To help folks transition from the 9-to-5 grind into retirement with confidence and clarity. If retirement planning ever felt like a maze, her leadership might just be the light at the end of the tunnel. Intrigued? Dive into the full story and see how Mary’s appointment could signal a fresh breeze for retirement strategy in Ireland. LEARN MORE

The Retirement Planning Council of Ireland (RPC) has announced the appointment of Mary Connaughton as its new chair.

Connaughton’s appointment was confirmed following the RPC’s AGM at the Camden Court Hotel on Thursday.

She succeeds Raymond Kennedy, who resigned from the role after 10 years on the RPC board.

Connaughton brings a wealth of experience and passion in developing people and workplaces to be at their best, and within RPC focuses on the support for people transitioning from corporate and working life.

She left the Chartered Institute of Professional Development (CIPD) in February after more than 10 years as a director.

She represented CIPD in Ireland as a director on the board of the European Association of People Management (EAPM) and is currently on the board of the Public Appointment Service.

She began her career as a psychologist in the civil service and then moved to FAS and Bank of Ireland Life where she worked on training and development interventions, before moving into consulting.

Connaughton worked across the public and private sectors on strategic HR and leadership development initiatives. She has also previously been the head of HR development at Ibec where she worked with leaders on the strategic development of HR practices.

“It is an incredible honour to have been selected as the new Chairperson of the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland by my peers at our Board meeting last night,” said Connaughton.

“It is a position I take with great pride having spent the last nine years working with the board of directors. I aim to continue the fantastic work of the RPC and I look forward to using my expertise in the development of a new strategy for RPC.

“I would like to wish Ray Kenny all the best and thank him for his contribution and encouragement over the years.”

Laura Farrell, CEO of RPC, said: “We are delighted to confirm Mary’s appointment as the new Chairperson of the RPC board. Her knowledge and skill set have been a huge asset to the charity over the course of the last nine years she has been on the board.

Mary Connaughton, Chairperson of the Retirement Planning Council of Ireland and Raymond Kenny pictured at The Retirement Planning Council of Ireland’s Annual General Meeting held at Camden Court Hotel. (Pic: Shane O’Neill, Coalesce)

“Having served most recently as the Vice-Chairperson, Mary’s appointment is a natural progression and we’d like to extend a huge thank you to Raymond for the last ten years of service to the charity.

“With Mary’s extensive background in HR, consultancy and working with leaders to develop HR practices, her appointment is a further step in RPC’s continued progress in providing nation-wide programmes to assist people looking to retire.”

Photo: Mary Connaughton. (Pic: Supplied)