After 40 years, Mick Guinee steps down as CEO, remains as chair
Ei Electronics, one of Ireland’s most successful indigenous companies, today announced that Founder and long-serving Chief Executive Officer Mick Guinee will step down from his role as CEO, effective 31st March 2025.
While transitioning out of the CEO role, Mick Guinee will remain deeply connected to the company. He will continue as Chairman of the Board and will play an active role in shaping the company’s future strategic direction.
Mick’s journey with the company began in April 1983, when he was appointed Managing Director of the then-GE-owned EI Company. In March 1988, he led a management buyout, founding Ei Electronics as a fully Irish-owned company. Under his visionary leadership, Ei Electronics has grown from a small startup into a global leader in fire and home safety technology, recognised for its innovation, quality, and manufacturing excellence.
Today, Ei boasts annual sales exceeding €420 million and a global workforce of 1,250 people—1,000 of whom are based at the company’s headquarters in Shannon. The company operates subsidiaries in the United Kingdom, Germany, France, the United States, and Australia. It stands as a model of Irish enterprise: achieving international scale while proudly maintaining its manufacturing base in Ireland.
Reflecting on his time as CEO, Guinee stated: “I am proud of my role in establishing and growing such a successful Irish company. It has been an honour and a privilege to lead a dedicated and skilled team. There were numerous challenges along the way, but we had the grit, the vision, and above all, the skilled workforce to succeed. At the heart of our success has been our commitment to our core values of Quality, Integrity, and Respect. In addition to providing employment, we have also benefited the community by supporting educational, sporting, cultural, and charitable activities. Above all, it is incredibly rewarding to manufacture life-safety products that have safeguarded lives in millions of homes worldwide.“
Ei's non-executive Director, Con Quigley, commented: “Mick’s contribution to Ei and Irish Industry cannot be overstated. His vision, leadership and tireless dedication have made Ei a global success. And in his continuing capacity as Board Chairman, the company will continue to benefit from his strategic leadership.”
The Ei Board of Directors will shortly announce Mick’s successor, ensuring a smooth transition that will continue the company’s legacy of excellence.
Ei Electronics, headquartered in Shannon, Co. Clare, is a wholly Irish-owned multinational and a global leader in fire and home life safety products.
