Harry Slowey

John Reynolds

HARRY Slowey's background in accountancy saw him reach senior positions with KPMG and Guinness Peat Aviation during the past 20-plus years.

Working alongside Bank of Scotland Ireland (BoSI) chief executive Mark Duffy, he became a key executive director, and spearheaded the bank's expansion here -- especially its retail division -- before stepping down in 2006.

His strategy included the introduction of new and competitive credit card and savings offerings, helping the bank to gain a share of about 15 per cent of the mortgage market.

A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and chairman of children's charity Barnardos, he still retains links with a number of firms in which BoSI invested.

In 2006, along with another former banker, Conor Sheeran, he co-founded independent financial advisers Finance One, which also owns IrishDeposits.ie.

Experience in the banking and mortgage world continues to serve him well, through his directorships. These include the Irish Credit Bureau, ICC Software Partners and Bio Medical Research, a private company that makes a number of health-related products.

Another finance and property-related interest is a directorship of the Thornsett Group, which was established in 2002 by entrepreneur and former Digicel executive Peter McCarthy and brothers Denis and Gerard Cunningham.

Its development portfolio mainly consists of social and affordable housing projects in the UK, Ireland and Belgium. It also includes a joint venture spin-off, the 27 Group.