Cork businessman and former Bord Gáis chief executive John Mullins dies

Olivia Kelleher

Former Bord Gáis Chief Executive John Mullins, who was a native of Cork city but lived in Castlemartyr, has died.

Mr Mullins, who was in his mid fifties, was the executive chairman of Amarenco, a company which is focused on the development, financing and ownership of solar PV assets in Europe, Carribbean, Middle East and AsiaPac.

He was CEO of Bord Gáis Energy (BGE) from December 2007 until the end of 2012.

During this time, BGE established a significant electricity business and developed significant renewable and conventional generation assets. He has held senior management positions with ESB, ESB International, PricewaterhouseCoopers (UK) and NTR plc.

Mr Mullins also served as Chairman of the Port of Cork Company from 2013 to 2021 and was a director of the Tyndall Institute, Supervalu Pairc Uí Chaoimh and Wisetek Solutions Limited.

Mr Mullins was a Fellow of Engineers Ireland and the Irish Academy of Engineering. He held a Bachelor and Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering and an MBA from the Smurfit Business School in UCD, Dublin.

John was awarded a Chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur by the French Government in 2015. He received the highest civilian honour in France in recognition of his work in developing the country’s solar energy market.

He was awarded the Legion of Honour at a ceremony in the French Embassy in Dublin, by then Ambassador of France to Ireland, Jean Pierre Thebault.

Mr Mullins was also a Fine Gael candidate for the European Parliament in Ireland South last year. He polled almost 40,000 votes.

In 1994, Mr Mullins put his name forward as a Fine Gael general election candidate for Cork North-Central. He fell short of getting on the ballot by a single vote, losing out to Colm Burke, who is now a TD in the constituency.

Mr Mullins is survived by his wife Siobhan and their three children.

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said he is "deeply saddened" at Mr Mullins' passing, calling him "someone who made such a distinguished contribution to public life, business, sport and politics.

"John was a wonderfully gregarious character who had a huge impact in Cork and across the country," the Taoiseach said in a statement.

"As chief executive of Bord Gáis, John made tremendous strides in the transformation of that organisation, and subsequently guided the growth of the Port of Cork. With Amarenco Solar he was influential in advancing solar power technology in this country and internationally."

Mr Martin added that he "often enjoyed great banter with [Mr Mullins] over sporting rivalries.

"John fully realised his potential in public service and in business, but he could just as easily have realised his promise in politics with his deep and abiding interest and involvement with Fine Gael. A great strategist, you would see John at all the election counts over the years.

"So many people will be shocked and saddened at John’s passing at such a young age, and I offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Siobhan, his family and friends."

'Shock and deep sadness'

Tánaiste Simon Harris also paid tribute to John Mullins, saying he learned of his passing with "shock and deep sadness".

“It was an honour to know John, to soldier with him in politics, to canvass with him and I always found it a joy to be in his company," he said.

"John led a distinguished career including leading Bord Gáis Energy through a period of great transition. John was a businessman and an entrepreneur who was experienced and motivated by ingenuity and reward of enterprise.

"A GAA fan, a charity advocate, John was a true son of Cork. Whether it was through his chairmanship of the Port of Cork, his role as director of Páirc Uí Chaoimh, or his presidency of Cork Chamber of Commerce, his entire career was motivated by a desire to do right by his native city.

"For Fine Gael, he was a proud friend of so many and a party activist to his core. He was a former president of Young Fine Gael, a party trustee, a director of elections and more recently a European election candidate. The Fine Gael family, especially across Cork, mourns his loss today.

“He was kind, witty, intelligent, fundamentally decent and someone who always wanted to do right by his community and his country. His loss is immense and will be felt deeply by so many.

"I am especially thinking of his wife Siobhan and his two children Michael and Sarah as well as his parents Pat and Eileen. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam”.