“It’ll be culture, it’s got to be about how do we blend the good bits of Smurfit Kappa with the good bits of WestRock”

Ken Bowles, CFO of Smurfit Kappa Group,  shares his insights on the recent announcement of the merger with WestRock creating the world’s largest packaging company with combined revenue of circa $34bn, EBITDA of $5.5bn and circa 100,000 employees across 42 countries.  Among other things, he shares his thoughts on the importance of culture within an organisation, Smurfit Kappa’s purpose to create, protect & care for people and the environment, his longstanding passion for sustainability and who he would invite to the ultimate dinner party!

A graduate of the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants, Ken holds a first class MBA from UCD. He was appointed as Group Chief Financial Officer of Smurfit Kappa in April 2016.
 He previously served as Group Financial Controller and held a number of other senior financial roles in the Group since joining in 1994. A passionate advocate for sustainability and environmental responsibility, Ken plays a crucial role in aligning Smurfit Kappa's financial strategies with its sustainability goals.
 Some of his notable career highlights include the take private in 2002 and the merger with Kappa Packaging in 2005. The newly minted Smurfit Kappa went public again, marking the largest IPO in the paper packaging sector in 2007.  

Ken Bowles, Group Chief Financial Officer, Smurfit Kappa Group answers business leaders’ questions on aligning the culture and governance of SKG with WestRock post-merger, as well as looking at IP (Intellectual Property) due diligence, artificial intelligence (AI) and sustainability & ESG within the organisation.

“Never run out of cash, never run out of nerve.” 

Aengus Kelly, CEO and Executive Director of AerCap, the largest owner of commercial aircraft in the world, shares his insights on the importance of Ireland as a global aviation finance hub, the future of the aviation industry post COVID and his views on the challenges facing the aviation sector in the race towards a more sustainable planet.

A Chartered Accountant with a Bachelor’s degree in Commerce and a Master’s in Accounting from University College, Dublin, Aengus was appointed Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of AerCap in 2011. He previously served as CEO of AerCap’s U.S. operations (2008-2011) and was AerCap's Group Treasurer (2005-2007). Aengus started his career in the aviation leasing and financing business with Guinness Peat Aviation(GPA) in 1998 and its successors AerFi in Ireland and debis AirFinance and AerCap in Amsterdam. Prior to this he spent three years with KPMG in Dublin.