Board of Directors

PJ Fitzpatrick is a Director of Praesta, a Leadership Development Business that provides Senior Executive Coaching to Irish and Multinational Companies. Praesta’s client companies and organisations cover a broad spectrum including large listed international and national companies, private companies, small and medium-sized companies, professional partnerships, representative bodies, state owned companies, 3rd level institutions and other public organisations.

He has coached clients on transitioning to CEO/Executive roles, working with Chairs and non-executive board members, leadership development, developing their teams, succession planning; performance management; culture change; transformational change; employee relations; managing stakeholders; managing relationships with Government and its agencies; career planning and personal development.

As its first Chief Executive PJ successfully established and modernised the Irish Courts Service. Before that he was Chief Executive of the Eastern Regional Health Board, then the largest health authority in Ireland.

In 2010 he was appointed by the Government to Chair the Implementation Body for the Public Service Modernisation and Pay (“Croke Park”) Agreement. He was also, at the request of the Government, interim Financial Services Ombudsman in 2010.

PJ’s practical experience is augmented by a M.Sc. in Management from Trinity College Dublin and a Certificate in Coaching from Henley Business School, London and through his engagement in ongoing professional development in the Praesta Coaching practice.

Kai is the Executive Director of the European Centre for Social Welfare Policy and Research based in Vienna, Austria. Kai is recognised globally as one of the preeminent researchers in the long-term care sector and related social policy areas. He is the reference point for the elder care sector with a vast array of reports, publications and research papers predominately commissioned through his work in the European Centre by government agencies and non-governmental organisations. Kai has been the key note speaker at numerous events focusing on the areas of integrated elder care including events held by Nursing Home Ireland (NHI). Kai has led and participated in a number of international projects relating to the integration elder care in the long-term care sector.

Ronan is a co-founder of Virtue. He is focused on driving the overall strategy and growth of the company. Before establishing Virtue, Ronan was Managing Director of the Willis Care Group, a leader in delivering elder care solutions to the Irish market. Ronan has an in-depth knowledge of the design, build and operational phases of new and existing nursing home facilities in the Irish Market. He has project managed the design and build of a number of purpose-built nursing home facilities in the South Dublin area. Ronan was a member of Nursing Homes Ireland National Sub-Committee on Financial Affairs and Commercial Activity.

Prior to his role as Managing Director of the Willis Care Group Ronan qualified as a Chartered accountant with KPMG and held various roles within the financial services sector.

Ronan earned his Bachelor of Commerce from the University College Dublin, a MBS in E-Commerce from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business and a Masters in Accounting from the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business. Ronan is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accounts in Ireland.

Cillian is a co-founder of Virtue. He is focused on strategic planning and alignment of operations of the company. Before establishing Virtue, Cillian was Chief Operating Officer of the Willis Care Group. Cillian has an in-depth knowledge of policy formation, strategic planning and best practice in governance. Cillian has also completed an extensive international comparative study of long term care regulatory models.

Prior to his role as Chief Operating Officer of the Willis Care Group, Cillian’s experience as a professional rugby player representing Leinster, Ulster, Connacht and Sale Sharks amongst others provided a unique perspective that compliments his approach.

Cillian married his time as a professional sportsman with various academic pursuits earning his Bachelor of Commerce from the University College Dublin. He also completed several postgraduate qualifications including a Diploma in Health Economics, a HDip in Public Management and a MA in Healthcare Management from the Institute of Public Administration earning the gold medal award in his class.

Dave McGrath retired from AIB Group in 2009, where he had, over a 43 year career, held a number of senior management positions including Regional Manager with responsibility for 26 Branches employing 450 staff, Head of Corporate Banking Ireland, charged with account relationship for the Bank’s Corporate customers engaged in all sectors of the Irish economy, as well as having responsibility for the Loan Administration and IT teams of Corporate Banking.

During his 20 years in Corporate Banking he sat on several Strategic Committees, including the Bank’s Credit Committee and regularly chaired this committee.

He was Chairman of the National Charity, Junior Achievement Ireland, the Irish branch of the International Movement engaged in a partnership between Industry and the Educational System seeking to ensure that children from underprivileged areas continue in full time Education. His term as Chair was from 2003 to 2006 having previously served on its Board of Directors for several years prior to assuming the Chair.

He was Chairman of Leopardstown Racecourse from 2008 to 2016 and continues to be a Director of Leopardstown.

Dave has served as Non-Executive Director of a number of Irish companies since his retirement from the Bank. He has also operated as a Financial Adviser to a number of companies and individuals mostly in assisting them manage their Banking relationships.

Dave has a B Agr Sc from University College Dublin and an Msc in Management from Trinity College.

Robert Willis has over 35 years’ experience operating within the Long Term Residential Care sector in Ireland. Robert was the registered provider and owner of San Remo Nursing Home for 30 years and was responsible for ensuring that San Remo remained at the forefront of elder care in Ireland. Robert has previously held the role of Chairman of the Willis Care Group.

Through his connections as a former priest, Robert has also participated in a number of voluntary and charitable project teams including various initiatives with the St. Vincent de Paul Society and religious organisations.

Robert’s role within Virtue is to provide strategic vision but also to maintain robust oversight of the group′s ethos, particularly in the area of spiritual support of service users.