19 April 2024

McCann FitzGerald LLP signs Women in Finance Charter as part of expanded inclusion and diversity commitments

Pictured from left to right: Aisling McNiffe, Financial Services Ireland, Ibec; Stephen Holst, Managing Partner, McCann FitzGerald LLP and Georgina O’Riordan, Partner and Head of Finance, McCann FitzGerald LLP

Signatories are required to commit their organisations to improving the number of women in management and board level positions by setting positive targets to be publicly disclosed and reported on, with progress independently monitored and reported on by the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI).

McCann FitzGerald’s support of the Charter is part of the firm’s wider commitment to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion and follows the publication of its eight-point gender action plan in December last year. A key component of this plan is the firm’s commitment to have not less than 40% female partners by 2030. This goal is supported by a new mentorship programme piloted by McCann FitzGerald in 2023 for senior female associates to enhance business skills and capabilities. The success of the pilot will now see a full rollout of the programme this year, providing senior women at the firm with added guidance and support in line with their career ambitions.  

The firm also undertook a review of its family leave and employee support policies in 2023, and introduced a number of new and extended initiatives including an increase in fully paid paternity leave from 2 weeks to 8 weeks, expanding the phased return of employees from maternity leave and introducing new policies such as paid fertility leave and paid leave for employees impacted by pregnancy loss.

A number of industry bodies including the Banking Payments Federation Ireland, Financial Services Ireland, Ibec, Irish Funds and Insurance Ireland are collaborating on the Charter, with 74 financial services companies in Ireland having signed to date, representing 50,000 employees across the industry. 

Commenting, Stephen Holst, Managing Partner, McCann FitzGerald LLP said: “As a firm, we are committed to ensuring our workplace reflects the diversity of our wider society. We see this as both a moral imperative for our people, and a commercial imperative, with undeniable evidence that better gender balance supports better business outcomes. Last year, we made a number of further commitments to put this sentiment into action, and look at new and practical ways to foster a more equitable and inclusive workplace. We are delighted to commit McCann FitzGerald LLP as a signatory and supporter of the Women in Finance Charter, and look forward to engaging with our peers across the financial services industry to advocate for and implement best practice in workplace gender equality.”