News and Views
College of Business and Law Awards Honorary Doctorate to Colin Hunt, CEO of AIB.
Cork University Business School (CUBS) in the College of Business and Law, University College Cork awarded was delighted to award Dr. Colin Hunt with an Honorary Doctorate of Economic Science on 27th March 2023, for his significant contribution to public life and private business, his vision, and his tremendous business achievements.
Dr. Hunt, who holds a BComm and MSc Economics from UCC and PhD from Trinity, was appointed Chief Executive Officer of AIB Group PLC in March 2019. Professor Thia Hennessy, Dean of CUBS, highlighted in her citation how under Colin Hunt’s leadership there has been a strong commitment to gender equality, with AIB becoming ‘only the second bank in the world to create a gender-balanced executive committee’. Colin Hunt has also ‘embedded a culture of sustainability in AIB being ‘recently included in the S&P Global Sustainability Yearbook, meaning it is within the top 15% of companies for sustainable practices.’
Marrying his great passions for education and sustainability Colin has worked closely with UCC in recent years, in roles as Adjunct Professor and CEO in Residence. Under his leadership, AIB has committed to a partnership with Cork University Business School to establish a Professor of Sustainable Business and a Lecturer of Responsible Management. This is a partnership that will help to develop the next generation of business leaders who will need to balance environmental, social and governance challenges while also leading economically sustainable organisations.
On the morning of the ceremony, Colin held an interactive discussion hosted by Dr. Geraldine Ryan as part of University College Cork’s Honorary Conferring celebrations. The fireside chat allowed the audience to gain insights into Dr. Hunt’s personal stories and thoughts on various topics related to his experience.