Brian Hillery is an Irish businessman and former Fianna Fáil Party politician, chairman of Ireland's largest media group, Tony O'Reilly's Independent News and Media, and a governor of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland.

Current roles

Hillery is Chairman of Independent News and Media (owners of The Irish Independent newspaper) and of Providence Resources Plc, both dominated by the O'Reilly family.

He is also currently a member of the Government Review Body on Higher Remuneration in the Public Sector and a Director of the National Pensions Reserve Fund Commission (Ireland).

Hillery was appointed a director of the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland from May 1 2008, succeeding Martin O'Donoghue.

Past roles

Until his appointment to the Central Bank and Financial Services Authority of Ireland, Hillery was chairman ofUniCredito Italiano Bank (Ireland) Plc.

He was an Executive Director, representing Ireland and Denmark, of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) London (1994–1997).

Hillery is also Emeritus Professor at the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business, University College Dublin.

Political career

Hillery is a former member of Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann (1977–1994). In 1977 he was elected to the 14th Seanad for Fianna Fáil by the Administrative Panel, and after unsuccessfully contesting the 1981 general election in Dún Laoghaire he was returned to the 15th Seanad, from 1981–1982. He did not sit in the brief 16th Seanad, but was re-elected to the 17th Seanad in 1983, where he served until he was elected as Teachta Dála (TD) for Dún Laoghaire at the 1987 general election.

At the 1992 general election he lost his Dáil seat to Helen Keogh of the Progressive Democrats, and was nominated by the Taoiseach to the 20th Seanad. He resigned as Senator on 5 May 1994, to take up his post with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.

References

• Brian Hillery's electoral history (ElectionsIreland.org)