Global technology provider Avvio has appointed Sean Finnan to the board as chair as the company is poised to embark on a new phase of expansion for 2019.
Finnan, whose experience includes global corporates IBM, HP and EDS, has held numerous senior board positions in recent years having run his own non-executive director consultancy business advising managing directors and CEOs of small and medium-sized enterprises and mid-size corporates.
Based out of London, UK, Finnan has previously worked in an advisory capacity to Avvio. With ambitious expansion plans in place to take advantage of Irish, UK and US hospitality markets, and considerations for other countries in the pipeline, his deep scale-up and technology company focus will prove to be a major asset.
Commenting on his role, Finnan says: “I’m excited to be taking on this role at such a pivotal time in the company’s commercial development.
“Avvio is a truly unique business, with the first and still only true AI-powered booking platform, and that’s a highly attractive value proposition for hoteliers the world over as they seek to stand out in a highly competitive marketplace.
“The heritage and knowledge of the hotel and accommodation sector within the Avvio team combined with a highly motivated, experienced management board and exceptional technological development expertise provides a fantastic opportunity as a chair. Frank and the board have a very exciting story to tell and I’m looking forward to working with them.”
Finnan brings experience from a number of positions including former UK chair at multinational IT and business process services company EDS, as well as a host of other roles including responsibility for outsourcing and European sales director.
At IBM he ran the European outsourcing business and was also commercial CEO for the UK business of HP. He has long been involved with the influential member representative industry body Tech UK and is a former president of the organisation.
Avvio’s outgoing chair, John O’Connell stepped down from the role at the end of 2018.
Commenting on his retirement, John says: “I have enjoyed my time with Avvio and working with colleagues, all of whom have been very helpful and gracious throughout my time with the company.
“I am very confident that the incoming chair, Sean Finnan, whom I know very well and who has a very impressive track record of business leadership, will be inheriting a much stronger Avvio than when I joined in November 2014. I wish him and my ex-colleagues every success going forward, in which as a shareholder I will have a continuing financial as well as emotional interest.”
Avvio co-founder and CEO Frank Reeves, commenting on the appointment says: “It’s great to have Sean on board. We’re totally focused on our commercial growth plans and his experience in development of new territories and technology is going to be extremely valuable to Avvio.”
For more information please visit www.avvio.com
