Our Team
We are defined by our people. Our staff are core to our success and we invest in their development to ensure we deliver a seamless service. We have built lasting relationships with many clients through collaborative working partnerships which add value to their projects.
Delivering the finest fit out demands a unique mix of skilled craftsmanship and efficient project management, which we provide via a single point of contact for each client. This ensures delivery of mutual objectives, keeps procurement on target and provides the accountability our clients need.
By recruiting, training, and developing the best available talent in the industry, we create real careers, enabling us to retain these talented people. Our Specialist Academy is indicative of our commitment to developing our people to the highest skill levels, find out more here:
Board Members
John Bosco O’Hagan
Founder and Group Chairman
John Bosco founded Specialist Group back in 1988 and is the Group Chairman today. He is responsible for leadership and strategic planning and attends board meetings as well as sponsorship and PR events. John is driven by the values of truth, honesty, integrity, quality and a will to win and his greatest satisfaction about life at Specialist is to see people happily working and winning together.
Ciarán O’Hagan
Group Managing Director
Having joined the business back in 1997 as an apprentice, Ciarán has worked his way up through various roles including a Workshop Joiner, Team Leader, Production Manager, Operations Manager, Operations Director and now Group Managing Director. Ciarán has executive involvement in every aspect of the business and is heavily involved in all the charitable causes the group pursues. Outside of Specialist Ciaran’s greatest passion is his family and farming.
Sean O’Hagan
Group Contracts Director
Sean joined the business back in 2006 and has adopted various roles during his time with Specialist. Sean has overall responsibility of everything Contracts related including; Design, Project Management, Material Purchasing, Health and Safety and Installation. He is motivated by problem solving and enjoys great pride in the prestigious projects with which the Specialist Group has become synonymous. Sean holds a helicopter license, and his dream is to have a helipad on his office!
Dermot O’Hagan
Group Sales Director
Dermot initially started in Specialist back in 1998 and began his full-time career in 2007. His responsibility lies with planning, implementing, managing and overseeing the Group’s overall sales strategy. Although sales orientated, he is driven by customer satisfaction and the will to go above and beyond for clients. Outside of work he is an avid sports fan, especially of his beloved Bellaghy Wolfe Tones club!
Karen Trainor
Group Operations Director
Group Operations Director Karen joined Specialist in 2000. Currently, Karen oversees all operational aspects of the business and plays a key role in staff development and well-being. She is driven by collaboration and believes the success of Specialist is due to the team working together successfully. Outside of work she enjoys spending time with her husband and two boys, not forgetting her Great Dane, Dennis.
Martin Collins
Group Projects Director
Martin first joined Specialist in 1988 as an apprentice and has progressed throughout the business into his role at board level. Today, Martin is responsible for the overall management of projects, including liaising with the client; coordinating and leading partners and supervising the team involved. Martin is also involved in the new development of woodworking machinery and products. He has been a vital part of the Specialist family over many years and demonstrates the value of what the Specialist Academy can achieve in terms of career progression.
Cóilín Campbell
Group Commercial Director
Specialist's Group Commercial Director Cóilín joined the company in 2005. Today, Cóilín is responsible for Business Development and Commercial Management of Project delivery. He is inspired by the positivity and creativity of the culture at Specialist – the ability to make even the most complex of design visions possible. He enjoys the family culture of the business and the variety of projects with which the company is involved.
Steven Scott
Group Manufacturing Director
Steven began his Specialist journey in 2020. Steven is responsible for overseeing all daily business activities and improving overall business functions. He is committed to continuing to engage the Specialist team to focus on operational excellence across the group, driving efficiency in routine tasks to allow the company to focus its energy on growing the business. He is inspired by the common purpose within the Group to not only satisfy customers, but to delight them – pushing the boundaries of what they believed to be attainable with every project.Senior Management
Cathal O’Kane
Design Director
Cathal has been with the company since 2009. He is responsible for the entire design process, solving complex design problems as they arise in order to deliver large scale projects. Cathal believes firmly in driving beyond the ordinary and not settling for less when more is possible as he knows it is in pushing the boundaries that real quality is found. His competitive streak and the high standards with which he operates are instrumental in the excellence and accuracy of the Design Team.
Conor Bartlett
Project Director
Conor joined Specialist in 2008 as an Apprentice and joined us again in 2012 after a short time away. Since then he has worked his way up through Workshop Joiner, Site Team, Site Manager, Project Manager to his current role as a Project Director. Conor is responsible for the overall management and direction for projects he is assigned to, including liaising with the client; coordinating and leading partners and supervising the team involved. Conor enjoys the collaborative approach to Project Delivery within the Group and is inspired by Customer Satisfaction.
Dan McCrystal
Senior Design Manager
Dan has been with Specialist Group since 2010. He is responsible for the design process on jobs he is assigned to, including; managing Design Team members, producing AutoCAD drawings, attending meetings onsite or virtually, producing 3D drawings and coordinating BIM. Dan enjoys visiting sites at the early stage to coordinate our package with other trades and seeing the finished project. Outside of work he enjoys illustrating comics and MMA.
Declan McCallan
Sales Director – Fit-Out
Declan is the Sales Director for Fit-Out projects within the Specialist Group. Having joined Specialist in 2013, Declan has assisted in the continuous growth within this sector and developed a key understanding of customers’ needs and objectives. He is responsible for developing key growth sales strategies and oversees the commercial management for the design and delivery of a project, working collaboratively with all involved. Declan seeks to build and maintain strong, long-lasting customer relationships. Outside of work Declan enjoys sporting activities, GAA youth coaching/management and development of facilities in his local community.
Derek Smith
Academy Training Manager
Derek joined Specialist in 2008 and has enjoyed a successful career in joinery, most recently as production manager for our Joinery division. Derek has now took on the role of our Academy Training Manager and is very well placed to guide our current apprentices as they set out on their own career in joinery. Derek has been involved in Joinery from a young age and an interesting fact is that he played Indoor Bowls for the National Teams in both Scotland and Ireland.
Eoghan Brown
Senior Commercial Manager
Senior Commercial Manager Eoghan joined the company in 2008. Eoghan is responsible for the financial management of projects and recognising business opportunities. He is motivated by reaching and exceeding the company’s sales targets and he enjoys the variety of projects with which the team is involved. Outside of work he enjoys watching and playing football and spending time with his wife and two young girls.
Feargal McMullan
Sales & Contracts Director – Glass & Metal
Feargal is the Technical Sales & Contracts Director for the Specialist Glass and Metal divisions. He joined Specialist in 2014 and is responsible for the overall Sales and Contracts for Specialist Glass and Metal products. Feargal is committed to achieving excellence with every project and is determined to continue to build a team to help deliver this. He is inspired by the diversity of designs he comes across every day in his role and driven by a desire to make even the most challenging of these designs come to fruition.
Francis Higgins
Group Logistics Manager
Francis joined Specialist in 1995 after leaving school, initially working in the factory and then as a lorry driver. Today, Francis is responsible for the Group’s Logistics and Despatch, organising the storage and distribution of goods. He is motivated by providing solutions to challenges which can often arise in the area of dispatch and logistics. Like others in the group, Francis has an agricultural passion and enjoys farming during his evenings and weekends.
John Paul McErlean
Group Construction Manager
John Paul joined Specialist Group in 2006 and is responsible for planning and overseeing Specialist Construction projects from beginning to end. With a large number of Construction projects starting in Specialist, John Paul is going to be kept extra busy. Outside of Specialist, John Paul enjoys spending time with his family and farming.
Laura Quinn
Group Financial Controller
Having joined Specialist in 2010 after completion of her A-levels, Laura is now responsible for the overall Finance function within the group. She is motivated by the fast-paced environment in the Specialist Group and is determined to carry on the work ethic and values instilled in her by our former FD, Sean McKay (RIP). Personal development is encouraged throughout the Specialist Group and Laura is keen to ensure this continues within her own team.
Mareanne Bradley
Group Marketing Manager
Mareanne's role as Group Marketing Manager began in 2020. She is responsible for the Marketing function for all Group companies. Mareanne brings to the group a wealth of experience from the construction and manufacturing industry and has a deep passion for delivering excellence across the business. She is driven by detail and shares the ambitious qualities so prevalent throughout the group. Outside of work she is a busy mother and enjoys spending time with family.
Michael Murphy
Design Manager
Operations Manager, Michael Murphy, joined Specialist in 1994 and after a short period elsewhere, re-joined the company in 2014. His responsibilities incorporate managing all day-to-day activities associated with the production of goods. Michael is driven by values of honesty and hard work and is motivated by the premium quality products he oversees leaving the production facility daily. Outside of work he enjoys golfing, hiking, walking his dog and spending time with his parents.
Paul Hamill
Group Installations Director
Paul's role in Specialist Group began in 2012. Paul is responsible for overseeing the install of all projects onsite. Paul is also responsible for our highly experienced and motivated Installation team and is wholly focused on flawless delivery and handover. The values of Honesty, Integrity and Quality are firmly instilled, and Paul believes that being positive, decisive and supportive can move any situation forward in a good manner. Paul enjoys long walks on the Beach and camping trips.