Kirby Group Engineering has announced its CEO Mark Flanagan will step down on January 1, 2025, after five years in the role.

He will be succeeded by the current group operations director, Henry McCann. McCann has served at the company for more than 18 years.

McCann said he is "passionate about focusing on people and the further development of Kirby as a learning and teaching organization."

He added: "I have also developed a strong instinct for understanding and pre-empting our valued clients’ needs which is key to building sustainable partnerships that can deliver real value into the future.”

The Limerick-headquartered firm said Flanagan has led Kirby through a period of profitable growth and international expansion, establishing it as a leader in the engineering and construction industry.

Flanagan, who has worked at Kirby since 1995, will continue to support the company as executive director.

He said: “Change is a constant, and it creates exciting opportunities, which have put Kirby Group Engineering in a strong position. We believe it is well placed for the future thanks to our consistent approach to client service through the ‘Kirby Way’ and in structured and proactive planning

“Nowhere is this approach more evident than in how we focus on having the right leadership and people in place through our succession planning, which aims to ensure we can lead in meeting the needs of our valued customers into the future.”

Founded in 1964, the mechanical and electrical engineering contractor presently employs more than 1,800 people and is on track to record a turnover of more than €700 million ($777.6m).