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Appointing Rhys Owens to strengthen WPS Ireland management team

Jan 9, 2026

Announcement
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We have appointed Rhys Owens as senior vice president of Walkers Professional Services (WPS) in Ireland, enhancing our transaction management capability and corporate services offering to structured finance and aviation clients. 
  
In his new role, Rhys will support the strategic management of WPS in Ireland, working with country lead, Joanna Taylor, and senior vice presidents, Nicola Byrne, Anthony Finegan and Colm Ó Murchadha. He will focus on delivering high quality corporate services for structured finance, securitisation and aircraft leasing transactions, complementing Walkers’ combined service offering of market leading legal and corporate services.  
  
Rhys brings more than 20 years of industry experience, with deep expertise in structured finance, securitisation and equipment finance transactions from corporate services and trust and agency perspectives. Prior to joining WPS, he spent over five years at Apex Group as director and Head of Transaction Management (Capital Markets), following senior roles at Wilmington Trust and Deutsche Bank. 
 
WPS Ireland country lead, Joanna Taylor said: 
 
‘Rhys brings strong expertise in transaction execution and client service. His background in structured finance and aviation aligns perfectly with our growth strategy in Ireland and will support our commitment to delivering best-in-class service to clients.’ 
 
Rhys Owens added: 
 
‘I’m thrilled to join WPS in Ireland. The team has an excellent track record managing complex transactions for SPV clients. I look forward to working with Joanna, Nicola, Anthony and Colm, and the wider WPS and Walkers teams to support clients and to contribute to the continued growth of the business.’ 
 
Walkers’ Ireland office managing partner, Jonathan Sheehan commented: 
 
‘We are delighted to welcome Rhys to Walkers. His appointment is both a reflection of our commitment to continue to strengthen our WPS offering and of continued client demand.’ 
 
This appointment follows the recently announced signing of a definitive agreement for a strategic co-investment between Walkers and Vitruvian Partners into WPS. The partnership is designed to meet growing client demand for integrated services across key investment hubs and strengthen service standards through added capital and sector expertise. 
 
This year marks the tenth anniversary of WPS in Ireland, reflecting a decade of market leading corporate services in Ireland, and follows the 15th anniversary of Walkers opening in Ireland in October 2010. 
 
Part of WPS’ global network, our WPS team has over 70 colleagues in Ireland, contributing to a business that now employs over 300 people worldwide, in a 1,400+ strong Walkers group.

Formation, Fiduciary & ComplianceIreland

Media contact

Chloe Ainsworth

Chloe Ainsworth

Communications Manager - Europe/Jersey

T/+44 (0) 1534 700 759
M/+44 (0) 7797 855 270
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Read more:

Walkers and Vitruvian Partners agree strategic partnership to accelerate global growth of Walkers Professional Services (WPS)Marking 15 years of excellence in Ireland

Key contacts

Get in touch with our team

Jonathan Sheehan

Jonathan Sheehan

Managing Partner

Ireland

T

+353 1 470 6639

M

+353 87 676 9170

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Email Jonathan Sheehan
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Joanna Taylor

Joanna Taylor

Director, Country Lead (Ireland)

Ireland

T

+353 01 470 6668

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Email Joanna Taylor
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Rhys Owens

Rhys Owens

Senior Vice President, Fiduciary Services

Ireland

T

+353 1 470 6675

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Nicola Byrne

Nicola Byrne

Senior Vice President

Ireland

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+353 86 027 0322

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Anthony Finegan

Anthony Finegan

Senior Vice President

Ireland

T

+353 1 470 6616

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+353 87 737 5537

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Colm Ó Murchadha
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Colm Ó Murchadha

Senior Vice President

Ireland

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+353 1 863 8567

M

+353 87 744 5804

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