Announcing the 2015 Irish America magazine Wall Street 50

Irish America magazine announces its 18th annual Wall Street 50 list in the October / November 2015 issue. This year’s honorees will be feted at the 2015 Irish America Wall Street 50 Awards Dinner on October 1 at the Metropolitan Club in Manhattan. The event, which has come to be the premier networking event for Irish and Irish-American leaders of the financial community, will feature Shaun Kelly, KPMG’s Chief Operating Officer, Americas, as its keynote speaker. Kelly is the cover interview for the October / November issue of Irish America.

The complete list of honorees can be viewed here.

For seventeen years, Irish America has sought out and recognized the best and the brightest Irish-American and Irish-born leaders in the financial sphere. The 50 honorees of 2014 are an extraordinary, inspiring, and diverse group that includes both standout rising stars and masterful Wall Street veterans. Honorees include: Michael Geoghegan, Vice Chairman of CBRE and co-head of the Consulting Group; Patrick J. Corry, Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer UBS Wealth Management Americas; Barbara G. Koster, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Prudential Financial, Inc., and head of the Global Business & Technology Solutions Department; and Conor Murphy, SVP and CFO of MetLife’s Latin American operations.

Shaun Kelly has held his role as COO Americas since 2010, working with the leaders of the KPMG International member firms in the region to align their respective strategies, operating structures, and business plans.

A west Belfast native, Kelly joined KPMG International’s Irish member firm in Dublin in 1980 and transferred to the San Francisco office in 1984. He was admitted to the U.S. partnership in 1999.

Kelly is being recognized for his extensive work serving a broad range of significant U.S. companies, which span a number of industries, as well as his keen insights regarding marketplace trends and the business issues companies face in today’s environment.

“Shaun represents a global identity for the Irish in finance, one that is constantly adapting and open to change in the field. In this, he is an ambassador for all of the honorees on our list,” Irish America co-founder and editor-in-chief Patricia Harty says.

“Historically, a rich source for innovation has been the immigrants who have come to America,” Kelly told Irish America. “Innovators and entrepreneurs can come from anywhere, be it Asia, the Americas, or Europe, including Ireland. The diversity of experience and outlook that immigrants bring to any country allow them to see new solutions for old problems – and that ever-fresh perspective is at the heart of a growing, strong economy.”

As Keynote Speaker, Kelly joins a distinguished group. In past years Irish America has welcomed such distinguished keynote speakers as Kathleen Lynch, COO of UBS Group Americas and Wealth Management Americas; Jim O’Donnell, Citi’s Head of Investor Sales and Relationship Management; Bob McCann, CEO of UBS Group Americas and Wealth Management; and Brian Moynihan, President and CEO of Bank of America.

The 2015 Irish America Wall Street 50 Awards Dinner is sponsored by: Mutual of America, Guinness, The Coca-Cola Company, Tourism Ireland, UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, CIE Tours International, The American Ireland Fund, Irish Department of Foreign Affairs, House of Waterford Crystal, 1-800-Flowers.com, and Invest Northern Ireland.

“Invest Northern Ireland is delighted to sponsor the prestigious Wall Street 50 Awards and we are particularly thrilled to congratulate Shaun Kelly and the 2015 honorees," Andrea Haughian, vice president of Invest Northern Ireland, New York, said.

"We have welcomed 850 investors from 40 countries to Northern Ireland. The U.S. remains our leading source of foreign direct investment, with 180 U.S. companies, including Citi, Chicago Mercantile Exchange, Baker & McKenzie, Liberty, Allstate, and CyberSource, employing almost 23,000 people in Northern Ireland. We have an international reputation for helping financial services and technology organizations accelerate growth, maximize profitability and facilitate recruitment, training, and R&D. We are delighted to recognize the outstanding achievements of Irish Americans in financial services.”