New CBA President outlines goals
Safety and cleanliness for Cork city are two of the main priorities outlined by the newly appointed President of Cork Business Association (CBA).
CBA held its 68th annual general meeting recently at the Metropole Hotel and Dave O’Brien, Head of Tax at Xeinadin Ireland, was elected as the association’s new president.
Mr O’Brien has been actively involved with CBA for over five years, serving as secretary, treasurer, and most recently, vice-president, a position in which he played a key role in restructuring the organisation.
Speaking at the annual meeting, Mr O’Brien said: “As I step into this role, I am mindful of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead, and I am committed to ensuring Cork Business Association plays a pivotal role in our city’s growth and progress. We have fantastic working groups in place now and lots of impactful initiatives in the pipeline.”
Outlining his priorities for the year ahead, he emphasised a continued focus on two key areas: Cork city as the safest and cleanest city, and the long-term vision of Cork City 2030.
Another key focus will be the roll out of CBA’s Cleaning & Greening Initiative in 2025, which will focus on improving the aesthetics of selected streets in partnership with local businesses and Cork City Council.
“This is a substantial task, but one that will have a lasting impact on the look and feel of our city. We will work with one street at a time,” said Mr O’Brien.
With housing expected to be a major challenge in the coming years, O’Brien plans to lean on his own strategic and financial background to advocate for solutions, such as increased Living Over the Shop initiatives, tax incentives for property developers, and a more streamlined planning processes to encourage residential conversions.
Ensuring efficient transport links and infrastructure improvements will be another key focus to support both businesses and residents in the city.
Mr O’Brien said CBA will continue to champion initiatives that drive economic activity and make Cork a more attractive destination for business and investment.
In his role as Head of Tax at Xeinadin Ireland, Mr O’Brien oversees tax planning, company restructures, succession planning, and VAT matters across 30 offices in Ireland.
Commenting on the election, Director of CBA, Cliona Barnes, said: “Dave’s strengths in finance, strategy, and leadership will make him a great asset to CBA and our members as we continue to grow the organisation and what we deliver.”
He takes the helm of CBA following a transformative year working with outgoing president Aaron Mansworth, during which CBA significantly expanded its membership, restructured its operations, and launched several impactful initiatives. Mr Mansworth will continue to support the association and work closely with O’Brien in his new role.
To kick off the new term, CBA will host its Annual President’s Dinner on 29 March at Vienna Woods, featuring Matt Cooper as MC, an address by the Taoiseach, and a keynote speech by EU Commissioner for democracy, justice, the rule of law and consumer protection Michael McGrath.