The Activate Capital Team

The Activate Capital Team
Our People Board of Directors
  • Professional Headshot portrait of Sarah O Cinneide

    Robert Gallagher

    CEO

    Robert Gallagher

    CEO

    Robert is CEO of Activate Capital. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Robert was a Director with KKR and led the firm’s credit investment activities in Ireland, including promoting the firm’s investment in Activate. From 2005 to 2011, he was an Executive Director of Ulster Bank, where he was responsible for the corporate and business banking franchises. Robert led the European leveraged finance and project finance businesses at Allied Irish Banks and has also worked at Citibank and KPMG. From 2009 to 2011, he was a board member of the European Banking Federation and president of the Irish Banking Federation. Robert is a Chartered Accountant and holds a B.Sc. from University College Dublin.

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    Paddy McElligott

    Head of Investment

    Paddy McElligott

    Head of Investment

    Paddy leads investment activities at Activate Capital. Prior to the establishment of Activate Capital, Paddy was a Principal with KKR, with responsibility for credit investment activities in Ireland, including KKR’s original investment in Activate. Previously, he was a Director with Avoca Capital, focused on high-yield corporate credit investing across Europe. Paddy qualified as a Chartered Accountant with KPMG and holds degrees in Civil Engineering and Mathematics from Trinity College Dublin. Paddy sits on the council of Property Industry Ireland and chairs its finance policy committee.

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    John Flynn

    CFO

    John Flynn

    CFO

    John is CFO of Activate Capital. Prior to joining Activate Capital, John was a Director of Corporate Finance at Goodbody Stockbrokers in Dublin and previously Vice President of Investment Banking at Credit Suisse in London. Before joining Credit Suisse, John worked as a Corporate Finance Executive in Goodbody Stockbrokers and as a Credit Analyst in leveraged finance at AIB Capital Markets. John has extensive corporate finance experience and has advised some of Ireland’s largest publicly quoted and privately owned businesses on fundraising, strategy and M&A. John holds a first class honours Bachelor of Commerce degree from University College Dublin and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants.

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    Dan Murphy

    Investment Director

    Dan Murphy

    Investment Director

    Dan is responsible for the origination of new relationships and the leadership of subsequent execution of transactions. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Dan was a manager in the Corporate Banking division of Allied Irish Banks, largely focused in the areas of real estate investment and development. Dan commenced his career in Anglo Irish Bank and worked in the Bank’s NAMA unit following its establishment in late 2009. Dan graduated from University College Cork with a B.Sc. in Finance and is an ACCA qualified Accountant.

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    Ciarán O’Toole

    Investment Director

    Ciarán O’Toole

    Investment Director

    Ciarán is responsible for the origination of new relationships and the leadership of subsequent execution of transactions. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Ciarán was a manager in Ulster Bank, with various roles including real estate finance and most recently in the restructuring and disposal of the Bank’s non-core portfolio. Ciarán had direct responsibility for the management of a large number of real estate investment and development clients and he was also involved in the management and sale of Project Clear, a €500m residential development land portfolio. Ciarán graduated from University College Dublin with a degree in Mathematical Science.

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    Sarah Ó Cinnéide

    Portfolio Director

    Sarah Ó Cinnéide

    Portfolio Director

    Sarah leads the portfolio management team at Activate Capital and is responsible for overseeing the portfolio of customer loans. Prior to joining Activate, Sarah held senior roles in NAMA’s Residential Delivery Division, where she was responsible for the funding of large scale residential developments. Sarah commenced her career in AIB and also held senior roles in the Property Finance, Corporate Banking and Global Restructuring divisions of Ulster Bank. Sarah graduated from University College Dublin with a Business and Law degree.

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    Mark Conlon

    Investment Director

    Mark Conlon

    Investment Director

    Mark is responsible for the origination of new relationships and the leadership of subsequent execution of transactions. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Mark was with EY as an Assistant Manager in their Assurance Group, specialising in audits of clients in the financial services sector. Mark holds a master’s degree in Structural Engineering with Architecture from University College Dublin and is a Chartered Accountant.

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    Lauren Kelly

    Financial Controller

    Lauren Kelly

    Financial Controller

    Lauren is responsible for the financial management of the business, focusing on capital management, stakeholder engagement, fundraising and financial planning. Lauren joined Activate Capital from KPMG Corporate Finance, having qualified as a Chartered Accountant. During her time with KPMG, Lauren worked with infrastructure and real estate clients in the public and private sector. Lauren holds a B.Comm. with French and an M.Acc. from University College Dublin.

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    Caetlyn Teakle

    PA & Office Manager

    Caetlyn Teakle

    PA & Office Manager

    Caetlyn joined Activate Capital from Hat Trick Television Productions in London and has over 10 years’ experience in various office based roles, including community event planning in her native Australia. As a result of her previous experience, Caetlyn brings strong organisational and analytical skills to her role with Activate Capital.

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    Rory O’Brien

    Investment Analyst

    Rory O’Brien

    Investment Analyst

    Rory’s principal role is analysis of new transactions and management of the completion process. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Rory was a Manager in Bank of Ireland’s Corporate Banking division, focused on real estate investment. Rory holds a B.Sc. in Finance from University College Cork, a M.Sc. in Finance from Trinity College Dublin and is an ACCA qualified Accountant.

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    Corina Postolache

    Portfolio Analyst

    Corina Postolache

    Portfolio Analyst

    Corina is responsible for the monitoring, analysis and credit management of the loan portfolio. Corina joined Activate Capital from Pepper Money, where she was involved in commercial property loans origination and portfolio management. Corina is a qualified Financial Advisor and holds a M.Sc. in Finance and a Professional Diploma in SME Credit and Corporate Banking Credit.

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    Linda Apse

    Financial Analyst

    Linda Apse

    Financial Analyst

    Linda is focused on the finance and operations side of the business. Linda joined Activate Capital from Therabody, with prior experience at Grant Thornton in their Corporate Audit division. Linda holds a B.A in Accounting from Technological University of the Shannon and is an ACCA qualified Accountant.

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    John Ridgeway

    Investment Analyst

    John Ridgeway

    Investment Analyst

    John’s principal role is analysis of new transactions and management of the completion process. Prior to joining Activate Capital, John was an Associate in Bank of America’s EMEA Leveraged Finance Credit team in London. John holds a B.Sc. in Economics and Finance from University College Dublin.

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    Paul Morrison

    Investment Analyst

    Paul Morrison

    Investment Analyst

    Paul’s principal role is analysis of new transactions and management of the completion process. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Paul was a Senior Associate in PwC’s Audit team in Belfast. Paul holds a B.Sc. in Accounting from Queen’s University Belfast and is a qualified Chartered Accountant.

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    Olivia Hone

    Financial Analyst

    Olivia Hone

    Financial Analyst

    Olivia is focused on the finance and operations side of the business. Prior to joining Activate Capital, Olivia was a Senior Associate in the Banking, Insurance and Aviation Finance team at PwC, where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant. Olivia holds a B.A in Economics from University College Dublin.

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    Alexei Biarozkin

    Junior Analyst

    Alexei Biarozkin

    Junior Analyst

    Alexei joined Activate Capital in June 2023 as part of UCD’s Quinn School of Business Internship Programme. He is an undergraduate Economics and Finance student and assists the team with transaction origination and portfolio management.

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    Holly Monaghan

    Junior Analyst

    Holly Monaghan

    Junior Analyst

    Holly joined Activate Capital in September 2023 as part of UCD’s Quinn School of Business Internship Programme. She is a third year Bachelor of Commerce student and assists the Activate team with transaction origination and portfolio management.