Biography

Kevin O’Byrne

Former Chief Financial Officer and Director of J Sainsbury Plc

Business Experience

Mr. O’Byrne served as Chief Financial Officer and Director of J Sainsbury plc, the second largest retailer in the United Kingdom, from 2017 until March 2023. He was previously Chief Executive Officer of Poundland Group Limited until December 2016 and held executive roles at Kingfisher plc from 2008 to 2015, including Divisional CEO/Chair UK, China and Turkey, Chief Executive Officer of B&Q UK & Ireland and Group Finance Director. Prior to this, Mr. O’Byrne was Group Finance Director of Dixons Retail plc and European Finance Director of Quaker Oats.

Education

Mr. O’Byrne holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Business Studies from Trinity College Dublin and he has been a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England & Wales since 1990.

Qualifications

Mr. O’Byrne is a skilled Chief Financial Officer with extensive board, international and finance experience gained during previous executive and non-executive positions. He applied this knowledge to the Finance, Internal Audit, Investor Relations, Property, Procurement and Strategy functions at Sainsbury’s, driving the performance of the business. He was the Operating Board Sponsor for the LGBT+ inclusion stream within Sainsbury’s.

Public Board Memberships

  • Centrica plc, an energy and services company
  • J Sainsbury plc, the second largest retailer in the United Kingdom from 2017 to 2023

Additional Accomplishments and Memberships

  • Former Non-Executive Director, Chairman of the Audit Committee and Senior Independent Director of Land Securities Group plc from 2008 to 2017
Financial Expert