PEOPLE

Leadership

Our leaders are committed to being supportive, engaged, and approachable contributors to our Leo Lynch community of colleagues. As a team, they are focused on the growth and success of the business, as well as the safekeeping of our values and promises to our clients and people.

  • Philip Smith
  • Christie Idemudia
  • Michael O’Hara
  • Karl Brennan 
  • Trevor McPhillips
  • Shane Gillece
  • Sean Dwyer
  • Brian Priestley 
  • Denis O'Sullivan
  • Sam McGill
  • Shane Lennon
  • Sean Smith
Philip Smith, Managing Director at Leo Lynch

Managing Director

Philip is responsible for overseeing company operations and giving strategic guidance and direction to the board. He is committed to driving the next stage of growth for Leo Lynch by delivering high-performance solutions for blue-chip clients across Europe. 

Philip was appointed managing director of Leo Lynch in 2022. A qualified building services engineer, Philip has over 20 years of experience delivering projects in Ireland and overseas. He joined Leo Lynch in 2016 and brought with him construction management and supervision experience on large-scale projects in key global markets. Since joining Leo Lynch, he has acted as project director on a variety of projects in the microelectronics, biopharma, food & beverage, mission critical, healthcare and energy sectors. 

Qualifications 

Masters of Construction Project Management (Msc.)

Project Management Cert, Construction and Engineering

Member of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland (MIEI) 

Managing Health & Safety, Construction Industry Federation

Bachelor’s of Building Services Engineering (BE)

HR Director

With 15+ years’ multi-sector experience across the full HRM spectrum in Ireland, the UK and Europe, Christie leads the Leo Lynch People function, implementing innovative HR strategies, fostering a positive workplace culture, and driving employee engagement to enhance organisational performance.

 

Christie’s expertise and focus at Leo Lynch includes HR Strategy Definition, Development, Alignment and Implementation, HR function set up including Policy, Process,  System Design and Development, Reward and Recognition, Competency-based Performance Management, Talent Management and Succession Planning, Change Management, Employee Experience and Engagement and HR Enterprise Solutions Implementation.  Christie’s passion lies in fostering an environment where everyone thrives, where diversity is celebrated and where organisations can reach its full potential through its greatest asset – Its people.

 

Qualifications

Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management

Diploma in Employment Law

Diploma in Professional Coaching and Mentoring

Chartered Fellow of the institute of Personnel Development (FCIPD)

Sales & Marketing Director

As Sales and Marketing Director, Michael works closely with the senior leadership team to identify, develop and deliver sustainable growth opportunities in-line with the overall business strategy across Ireland, the UK and mainland Europe.

Michael is a passionate, competitive and dedicated Business Development professional with over 35 successful years’ experience. With an extensive client, contractor, supply chain and consultant network in key sectors including Data Centre, Industrial, Logistics, Food, Pharma and High-Tech Manufacturing, Michael identifies, builds and maintains trusted and valued relationships with all, enabling sustainable growth.

Karl Brennan, Finance Director at Leo Lynch

Finance Director

Karl is a high-performing senior finance professional responsible for Leo Lynch’s financial management. He has played a key role in building a strong platform for the business’ growth. 

Known for his proven leadership experience, Karl provides sound commercial direction and financial management to Leo Lynch. His background is in corporate banking, and he has worked in public and private companies for over 20 years in Australia, Europe, and Asia. Karl joined Leo Lynch in 2021. 

Qualifications

MBS, Dublin City University 

Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland (FCA)

Trevor McPhillips, Commercial Director at Leo Lynch

Commercial Director

With more than 20 years experience in M&E construction, Trevor leads the Leo Lynch team in upholding robust commercial controls, while maintaining high-performing client relationships. 

Trevor’s two decades of experience include M&E estimating, quantity surveying, project management, and commercial management – all skills he brings to his role at Leo Lynch’s commercial director. His projects have included microelectronics, food & beverage, life science and pharma. Trevor’s skills lie in the mitigation of risk and the realisation of commercial expectations with the ambition of building trusted relationships and securing repeat business. 

Qualifications 

Diploma in Building Services Engineering

Shane Gillece, Operations Director at Leo Lynch

Operations Director 

Applying a well-honed process-driven approach, Shane ensures Leo Lynch remains at the leading edge of project execution, safety and quality.

Shane works as project director across all sectors at Leo Lynch: commercial, microelectronics, pharma, biopharma, and food & beverage. In his role, he has overall responsibility for company performance and project delivery. Drawing on his 12 years’ experience delivering large-scale mechanical projects for some of the world’s leading clients, Shane brings to Leo Lynch a rigorous, systematic approach to project delivery, innovation, safety and quality.

Qualifications

Diploma in project management

Certificate in construction management 

Associate Director

Sean works closely with our team of project managers and construction managers on sites, while liaising with clients to ensure projects are completed safely and timely and meet or exceed client expectations. He oversees all labour and is also responsible for onboarding and development of new apprentices that join our teams.

Sean has 25 years’ experience in the Mechanical Engineering Industry, joining Leo Lynch in 2012. Prior to his current role, Sean was Chargehand, Supervisor and Construction Manager at Leo Lynch. He has successfully worked on a variety of large-scale projects in Ireland and overseas across microelectronics, biopharma, food and beverage, semiconductor, and mission critical healthcare and data centre environments.

Qualifications 

Diploma in Project Management

Certificate in safety Management in Construction

National Craft Certificate in Plumbing

Member of the CIF/ MEBSCA steering group for high purity pipe fabrication and welding programme

Brian Priestley, Engineering Director at Leo Lynch

Engineering Director 

Brian is a strategic and people-focused leader with a proven track record in project delivery. His wealth of specialist knowledge and experience informs our ability to deliver large, complex projects at scale.  

Brian is a building services engineer with 30 years of experience in the consultancy and contracting industry. He has extensive experience managing multi-faceted engineering projects in the pharma, biopharma, microelectronics, food & beverage and healthcare sectors. His experience managing large complex process projects has given him an excellent understanding of the collaboration required from stakeholders to successfully deliver fast-track projects.

Qualifications

M.A. BSc. Hons. Engineering

Member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (MASHRAE)

Associate Director, EHS & S

Denis has 20 years’ experience working across senior health and safety roles in industry. Joining Leo Lynch in 2023, he previously worked in the Security, Facilities Management, Waste and Construction Industries and has held Senior EHS roles for leading Irish and international firms.

Denis is passionate about fostering a culture of health, safety and sustainability across the company and protecting the well-being of our employees, clients, and stakeholders. Denis leverages his years of experience and expertise to enhance the EHS&S performance and reputation of Leo Lynch, and to support our vision of delivering high quality engineering solutions that meet the needs of the market and the environment.

Qualifications

HDip Occupational Safety & Health (HDip OSH)

Diploma in Security Management (DipSecMan)

Certificate in Safety, Health & Welfare at Work

IOSH- Safety in Construction Design Management – PSDP

ISO Internal Auditor – Integrated Management Systems

Certified Member Institute of Occupational Safety & Health (CertIOSH)

Member International Institute of Risk & Safety Management (MIIRSM)

Member of Security Institute of Ireland (MSecII)

Member of American Society for Industrial Security (ASIS)

Operations Director UK

As Operations Director UK, Sam works closely with the senior leadership team to establish Leo Lynch as a leading provider of exceptional quality construction and innovative solutions for our clients in the United Kingdom. 

Sam has 18 years of experience in the mechanical and electrical construction industry, working in various sectors and has effectively led multidisciplinary teams, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. Sam’s skills lie in project management, strategic planning, leadership and driving operational efficiency.

Pre-Construction Director

With over 25 years experience in the construction industry and an in-depth knowledge of all aspects of building services contracting, Shane leads the estimation and pre-constriction teams at Leo Lynch as pre-construction director.

Shane is a highly motivated leader. He started his career as an electrician and quickly progressed into project management roles and then to operations director. Shane has managed and delivered projects across multiple sectors, with extensive experience in the data centre and energy sectors, where he has spent the last 15 years delivering large-scale, mission-critical projects for global clients across Ireland, the UK, and mainland Europe. 

Qualifications

National Trade Certificate with Merit Electrical Apprenticeship 

Management and Leadership Foundations/LEAN Principals and LEAN Tool Application (2014)

Sean Smith, Non-Executive Director for Leo Lynch

Non-Executive Director

Sean is a seasoned engineer with 50 years of experience across sectors and project types. He is heavily engaged in industry collaboration and leadership and brings to Leo Lynch a broad perspective on its various challenges and opportunities.  

Sean is a chartered engineer with 50 years of experience in the consultancy and contracting industry in Ireland, the UK and Europe. He joined Leo Lynch in 1995 from Asea Brown Boveri where he was director-in-charge of environmental engineering. During his time in the industry, Sean has built up an in-depth knowledge of services from both a design and construction perspective. He has extensive experience in specialist areas such as clean rooms, automation and industrial ventilation. He is a past president of the mechanical engineering and building services contractors’ association (MEBSCA) and serves on many sub-committees within the Construction Industry Federation.

Qualifications

Chartered Engineer 

Fellow, Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers (FCIBSE)

Member of the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (MASHRAE)

Philip Smith
Philip Smith, Managing Director at Leo Lynch

Managing Director

Philip is responsible for overseeing company operations and giving strategic guidance and direction to the board. He is committed to driving the next stage of growth for Leo Lynch by delivering high-performance solutions for blue-chip clients across Europe. 

Philip was appointed managing director of Leo Lynch in 2022. A qualified building services engineer, Philip has over 20 years of experience delivering projects in Ireland and overseas. He joined Leo Lynch in 2016 and brought with him construction management and supervision experience on large-scale projects in key global markets. Since joining Leo Lynch, he has acted as project director on a variety of projects in the microelectronics, biopharma, food & beverage, mission critical, healthcare and energy sectors. 

Qualifications 

Masters of Construction Project Management (Msc.)

Project Management Cert, Construction and Engineering

Member of the Institute of Engineers of Ireland (MIEI) 

Managing Health & Safety, Construction Industry Federation

Bachelor’s of Building Services Engineering (BE)

Christie Idemudia
Michael O’Hara
Karl Brennan 
Trevor McPhillips
Shane Gillece
Sean Dwyer
Brian Priestley 
Denis O'Sullivan
Sam McGill
Shane Lennon
Sean Smith

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