Ann Riordan
Ann Riordan | |
|---|---|
| Born | Ann Kelly 17 July 1947 Dublin |
| Died | 5 March 2021 (aged 73) Dublin |
| Nationality | Irish |
Ann Riordan (17 July 1947 – 5 March 2021) was a pioneering woman who fought for equal pay and rights. She was an early married woman who returned to work and went on to become the first general manager of Microsoft Ireland.
Biography
Born Ann Kelly on 17 July 1947 Riordan was the daughter of a
Riordan left school to get a job with the Gas Company in Dublin. However, almost immediately she discovered that the women in Alliance and Dublin Consumers Gas Company were not being paid the backdated cost-of-living increase which had been agreed with the
When she married Frank Riordan, she faced her next challenge. There was a ban on married women in the workplace. Riordan's employer told her they would be happy to see her back but that the unions this time were preventing it. The union granted her a six-month compromise and Riordan returned to work. However, in 1974 Riordan moved to London. There she got a role with
In 1991 Riordan was selected to be the Microsoft country manager for Ireland. By 1996 she had won the company's 'Chairman's award' for what she had achieved in both Ireland and Europe. Riordan retired in 2000. She got involved in various organizations and was President of the Institute of Directors In Ireland, Chair of the Science Foundation Ireland, Chair of the National Standards Authority of Ireland and Tourism Ireland.[1][2][4][5][6][3]
Sources
- ^ a b c d "Ann Riordan obituary: Microsoft leader who helped make Ireland a global tech hub". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b c d Lillington, Karlin. "Ann Riordan showed a woman's place was at the top". The Irish Times.
- ^ a b "Retiring Microsoft executive broke management mould". The Irish Times.
- ^ "Ann Riordan appointed Chairperson of Science Foundation Ireland". merrionstreet.ie.
- ^ "Ann Riordan". independent.
- ^ "Irish Emeritus Board". www.smurfitschool.ie. UCD Smurfit School.