Shortly after joining Bank of Ireland as CEO in October 2017, Francesca articulated her ambition to enable customers, colleagues and communities to thrive by supporting a D&I agenda. She appointed the CFO as executive sponsor for D&I, thereby demonstrating her commitment with both Executive Directors fronting the diversity agenda. Francesca launched a 50:50 public commitment for all senior appointments by 2021, which has also heralded a sense of ambition for upcoming female talent. The bank has delivered a female talent accelerator programme, and Francesca has introduced ‘Modern Ways of Working’, allowing greater flexibility to those with outside responsibilities. She initiated a returners’ network and has spoken at the bank’s Role Model lunch series on gender diversity. Outside of her regular work, within the last year Francesca has given the keynote speech at the 30% Club annual conference, also ensuring that the Bank of Ireland actively supported and embraced the pilot ‘Board Ready Programme for Senior Female Executives’ run by the 30% Club. She has supported a number of ‘100 Women In Finance’ events, welcomed the ‘Fearless Girl’ to the Bank of Ireland, penned an OpEd for the Irish Independent and welcomed the Minister of Finance to the bank to present the Balance for Better Business first annual report.