Dear colleague,

At its meeting today, the Law Society Council approved the appointment of Mark Garrett as our new Director General for a seven-year term. He will commence the role on 3 January 2022.

Mark has extensive experience in a range of private and public sector roles. These include senior roles in McKinsey, Glanbia and Teneo. He has worked in the Competition Authority (now the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission) and in Government as Chief of Staff to An Tánaiste Eamon Gilmore. He was educated in St Muredach’s College, (Ballina, Co Mayo), University College Dublin, Dublin Institute of Technology and King’s College London.

The recruitment process commenced in July 2020 and was led by the Director General Recruitment Committee, which was comprised of senior Council members and was chaired by immediate Past President Michele O’Boyle.

The Society is at a point in its evolution where it is facing substantial change and re-orientation while being fortunate to have an excellent management team and staff.  In order to meet the challenges, we are delighted to appoint Mark Garrett, who brings to the role a wealth of knowledge, and experience and an impressive track record. We are confident that, working with the Society’s excellent management team, the Council and the huge voluntary effort of members, Mark will be a great asset to the profession in seizing the opportunities and dealing with the challenges that face us. 

I would like to personally thank Mary Keane, who has served with distinction as Director General since the retirement of Ken Murphy in March 2021. Her professionalism, experience and dedication have been invaluable, both to me and the profession as a whole, and will continue to be so. 

I know you will join me in thanking Mary and the Director General Recruitment Committee, and in welcoming Mark to the Law Society of Ireland.

Kind Regards,

James Cahill

President