Ciaran Black

Ciaran Black

Ciaran has extensive experience creating innovative products, services and business models. He has held roles as Innovation Director and Head of Strategy, and in M&A and strategy execution in Telecoms, eCommerce, Renewable Energy, Forestry and Recreation.

For Coillte he created a new B2C recreation business; helped scale a technology start-up apply data analytics and the Internet of Things (IoT) to forestry operations; and developed the wind energy strategy that shifted the business model from a passive player to a full-scale Wind Farm Developer. Ciaran successfully led the team that negotiated the ‘make or break’ interconnection agreements for Digicel in four new countries.

Ciaran’s background is business strategy and innovation (MSc in Strategy and a BBS in Business). He regularly presents at leadership conferences, is an associate of St. Gallen’s Institute of Technology – Business Model Innovation Lab and a member of the Irish Research & Development Group (IRDG) on Design Thinking.

Ciaran, a lifelong rugby player, recognises the importance of timing and contends he could’ve been a pro. He settles for wins at work and vicariously through others as Honorary Treasurer of Ireland’s oldest rugby club.