Evelyn Brigid Bourke[1] (born 1965) is an Irish businesswoman. She is a non-executive board member of Bank of Ireland plc, Marks and Spencer. Admiral Group plc and of London First. She is also joining the board of AJ Bell plc from July 2021.
Evelyn Bourke | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1965 Drom, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Alma mater | London Business School |
| Occupation | Businesswoman |
Her most recent executive role was as group CEO at Bupa from July 2016 to December 2020.[2]
Early life and education
editShe grew up in Drom, County Tipperary, Ireland.[3] She was one of the first two women in Ireland to qualify as an actuary[4] and holds an MBA from the London Business School.[5]
Career
editBourke began her career with New Ireland Assurance in 1982 before working in various management roles at Bank of Ireland during 1986–1991.[6]
She worked as principal at Tillinghast Towers Perrin for over 10 years, before moving on to become Finance Director of Nascent Group (2001), Chief Executive Officer of Chase de Vere (2004), Chief Financial Officer of Standard Life UK (2006), Chief Financial Officer of Friends Provident (2009) and Chief Commercial Officer and member of the board at Friends Life UK (2011). She joined Bupa as Chief Financial Officer in September 2012.[6][7][8]
Bourke became Bupa’s Acting Group CEO on 4 April 2016 before being appointed permanent Group CEO on 25 July 2016.[9][1][10] She established a new strategy focusing the organisation on three core strategic pillars, delivering for its customers, its people making the difference and driving strong and sustainable performance.[11][12] In September 2020, Bupa announced that Bourke had decided to retire as Group CEO at the end of the year to develop a portfolio career.[2]
In September 2018, she was ranked 16th in the Financial Times annual HERoes list of female global leaders committed to driving workplace gender equality.[13]
Stepping down from Bupa
Bupa Chairman, Roger Davis commented: "Our deepest thanks go to Evelyn for all that she has contributed to Bupa. She leaves the organisation in excellent shape. The hallmark of her leadership has been her systematic focus on Bupa’s customers, putting them front and centre right across the organisation. She has also transformed many of the fundamentals across the Group, investing in technology and operational resilience, and strengthening internal controls and risk management. This has served Bupa incredibly well in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Having delivered substantive change, Evelyn has decided that the time is right for her to move onto the next phase of her career and go plural, developing a portfolio career."[2][14]
Non-executive career
In May 2018, she joined Bank of Ireland Group plc and the Court of Directors of The Governor and Company of the Bank of Ireland as Non-executive Director. She is currently Chair of the Audit Committee and a member of the Risk Committee and has also served on the Nomination and Governance Committee.[15][16]
She joined the Marks & Spencer Board in February 2021 and is a member of the Board's Audit and Nomination Committees.[17]
She joined the Board of Admiral Group plc from April 2021 and is a member of the Remuneration Committee. [18]
From July 2021, she will join the Board of AJ Bell plc one of the UK's largest investment platforms.[19]
Bourke was also a Non-Executive Director of BusinessLDN between 2019 and 2021.[20][21]
She has also served as a Non-Executive Director on a number of boards, including The Children's Mutual, Opportunity Now and IFG Group plc.[22][1]
Personal life
editShe is married and lives in the UK.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Evelyn Brigid Bourke MBA, FIA: Executive Profile & Biography - Bloomberg". Bloomberg.com. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ a b c "Bupa announces Evelyn Bourke is retiring as Group CEO, and appoints Iñaki Ereño from 1 January 2021". Bupa.com.
- ^ John Reynolds (10 June 2018). "Reaping the fruits of her labour: from Tipperary farm to head of health giant". Irish Independent. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
- ^ Medland, Dina (3 November 2011). "Career path to the top from the school gates". The Financial Times.
- ^ "Evelyn Bourke- London Business School". London Business School. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ a b "Feeling on top of the world". The Actuary. May 2014.
- ^ "Business big shot: Evelyn Bourke". The Times. 13 June 2012. ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "Friends Life heritage chief executive Evelyn Bourke quits for Bupa move". The Independent. 12 June 2012.
- ^ "UK healthcare firm Bupa's CEO steps down as growth stumbles". Reuters. 24 March 2016.
- ^ "Health Insurance - Cash Plans/Dental - Bupa confirms appointment of Evelyn Bourke as CEO". Healthinsurancedaily.com. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
- ^ "Our strategic framework". Bupa.com. Retrieved 12 March 2018.
- ^ "Leading with James Ashton". Podcasts.apple.com. Retrieved 4 May 2020.
- ^ "HERoes: champions of women in business". Financial Times. 20 September 2018.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ "Two High Profile Appointments at the Bank of Ireland". Irish Times. 15 May 2018.
- ^ "Bank Of Ireland Adds BUPA CEO, Former Barclays Exec To Board". Interactive Investor. 15 May 2018.
- ^ "Directorate Change". Otp.investis.com. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ "Our Board and Management | Admiral Group plc". Admiralgroup.co.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ "Directorate Change | AJ Bell". Ajbell.co.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ "Bupa's Evelyn Bourke joins London First Board | London First". Londonfirst.co.uk. Retrieved 29 October 2021.
- ^ "BUSINESSLDN people - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2022.
- ^ "The Female FTSE Board Report". Cranfield University School of Management. 2015.