John had a career that was as impressive as it was purposeful, and it was all about doing and delivering for his native Cork and for Ireland. He was group chief executive of Bord Gáis Energy for more than five years and was responsible for the company’s diversification from its core gas business into electricity, water and telecoms. He set up Amarenco Solar in 2013 to source, structure, finance and asset manage large scale solar photovoltaic (PV) plants across Europe. The company has built up an installed PV and battery operating portfolio of more than 600MW, and he led it initially as chief executive and later as Executive Chairman.
A graduate of University College Cork and University College Dublin, John served as chairman of the Port of Cork company and a director of several private companies. He was a board member of several charities. John was a former President of Cork Chamber of Commerce and led the business organisation with passion and purpose.
As a member of Fine Gael since his youth, his entry to active politics was no surprise to many in the political and business world. John was a strong supporter of directly elected mayors and was to the fore in wanting to see Cork have a directly elected Lord Mayor. He would have been an exceptional candidate for this office, and from my many conversations with him at that time, around the role and the plebasite that ensued, he was, like so many of us, disappointed that the Cork electorate voted narrowly against it.
John Mullins leaves an enormous legacy of passion, purpose, interest, delivery and genuine concern for his city, his county, his country, the world, and most importantly I think, his fellow citizens that he always believed in seeing and bringing out the best in.
To Siobhan, Sarah, Michael and the wider Mullins family and friends, we mourn with you on the terrible loss of John, and will forever remember a man who sought and did do so much good, for so many, in his short 57 years amongst us. I n-arm na n-aingeal
Michael Mulcahy
CEO
