Elkstone was co-founded in 2011 by Merriman along with Ciarán McIntyre and Ruairí O’Neill Alan Merriman, a former is one of Ireland’s best known financiers including for his role as a backer of early stage Irish start-ups likes drone-delivery service Manna and home diagnostics venture LetsGetChecked.
He’s also led calls over a number of Budgets for tax reforms to support a Savings and Investment Scheme to reroute savings into the domestic economy – something now being examined by Finance Minister Simon Harris.
His new Executive Director role at Elkstone will focus on areas like scaling venture portfolio companies, supporting Ireland’s venture ecosystem, and leveraging a diaspora network including in the US to bring more international capital to Ireland, he said.
Joe Bergin will take over management of the firm. He has been with Elkstone since 2019, most recenty as Managing Director, Private Clients. Before that worked at Ulster Bank as a relationahsip manager.
Bergin was appointed Group CEO by the board in January 2026, Elkstone said.
The firm also appointed two new non executive directors – Eoghan Quigley, President of the Dublin Chamber of Commerce and formerly at KPMG, and Margot Lyons, formerly of Morgan Stanley and Ulster Bank.
Alan Merriman said the organisation was ready for a leadership transition.
“After 15 years as CEO, the organisation is ready, and we’re fortunate to have someone of Joe’s calibre leading us forward,” he said.
“The transition will now allow me to focus on what energizes me most: scaling our venture portfolio companies, supporting Ireland’s venture ecosystem, and leveraging our diaspora network to bring more international capital to Ireland,” he said.
Elkstone started out manging money for a handful of wealthy clients in the family office segment.
The business now operates across a number of business areas, including raising and deploying capital and advising clients.
The firm breaks down into three broad categories – venture capital for early stage high-potential start-ups, real estate and wealth management.
The biggest single part of the business in financial terms is real estate. Elkstone sources funds and leads investment in residential construction, including student housing, on the island of Ireland.
Elkstone’s real estate portfolio accounts for more than 3,200 properties, with over 1,500 units brought through planning in the last two years across the island of Ireland.
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