Meet the IOB President, Geraldine Casey

We speak with Geraldine Casey, IOB President and Managing Director of Retail Banking at AIB, about her career journey, advice for those beginning a career in financial services, and the trends she believes will shape the future of the industry. Geraldine also reflects on her work with IOB Council and shares her priorities for her Presidency of IOB.

Hi Geraldine, thanks for speaking with us. Can you tell us about your career journey?

I’ve been fortunate to have worked across a range of leadership roles throughout my career, spanning both retail and financial services. I spent more than 20 years with Tesco Ireland in operations, technology, communications and people management before joining AIB as Chief People Officer in 2020. I became Managing Director of Retail Banking in 2023 and now lead AIB’s Retail Banking business across Ireland and the UK.

What is a standout lesson you have learned about leadership in your career to date?

One standout lesson I’ve learned is that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about staying curious, being open to learning and creating an environment where others feel comfortable contributing their ideas and challenging constructively. Financial services is constantly evolving, whether through technology, regulation, customer expectations or sustainability, so none of us can afford to stand still.

What advice would you give to someone starting out in their career in the sector?

Make the most of every learning opportunity. Build your knowledge, confidence and network. I saw the value of IOB myself when I completed the Certified Bank Director programme after moving into financial services six years ago. It helped me navigate that transition and gave me a valuable wider perspective on the industry.

The industry is evolving at an unprecedented pace. Which trends do you believe will have the biggest impact on financial services over the next five years?

The next five years will be shaped by several big forces coming together at once. Three megatrends that will undoubtedbly influence the future are ageing demographics, AI and electrification. Each will affect customers, colleagues and the wider economy.

AI is clearly a major area of innovation. It is the latest wave in the sector’s digital transformation journey. We have seen over the last 10 or 15 years how digital technology has changed the way customers engage with banks, and AI will continue that evolution. Used responsibly, it can improve customer service, strengthen fraud detection, support risk management and make organisations more efficient. It also means the skills needed will keep evolving, so learning and professional development become even more important. That is where IOB’s AI programmes can play an important role.

Ageing demographics will also shape the sector. People are living longer, working differently and thinking more carefully about savings, pensions, protection and investment. Financial services has a responsibility to support them with clear advice, accessible products and long-term financial confidence.

The third area is electrification and the wider green transition. Financing warmer homes, cleaner energy and more sustainable businesses will remain central to the role banks play in society.

For me, the common thread is people. The industry will keep changing, but our job is to make sure customers are supported, colleagues have the right skills and trust remains at the heart of everything we do.

You joined IOB Council in 2025 and became President in March this year. What have been your highlights of the past year?

A real highlight has been getting to know the breadth of work that IOB does across the financial services sector, and seeing first-hand the commitment of the Council, Executive team, and members to maintaining professional standards. Being part of IOB has given me a broader perspective on the shared challenges and opportunities across the sector.

Another highlight has been speaking with members and industry colleagues about the skills people will need as AI, digitalisation, sustainability and customer expectations reshape our industry. There is a real appetite for practical learning that helps people adapt with confidence and IOB has an important role to play.

During the remainder of your term, what are you looking forward to leading as President of IOB?

I’m looking forward to progressing work that helps people across financial services build the skills, confidence and capability they need for the future. The pace of change in our industry is extraordinary and that creates real opportunity, but it also means we must keep investing in learning and professional development.

IOB already plays a really important role here and I’m looking forward to supporting the continued growth of its education programmes, including in areas such as AI where members have told us they want more support. I’m also excited by the opportunity to explore the creation of a new Innovation Lab, including the first blockchain credentialling platform. I believe IOB is very well placed within the financial services ecosystem to help drive practical, transformative change.

Another priority is IOB’s first retail banking apprenticeship programme. We need to create more pathways into the industry, support different ways of learning and help build a more diverse workforce.

I’m also looking forward to supporting the continued evolution of the Irish Financial Services Skills Framework. It gives people a clear blueprint to understand how roles are changing, what skills will matter most and where they can access the right education and training.

Ultimately, this is about helping people and organisations remain confident, capable and ready for what comes next.