On behalf of the Diocesan Employment Committee and Diocesan Council of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, the Bishop, the Right Reverend Dr Paul Colton, is delighted to announce the appointment of John de Montfort as new Diocesan Secretary, as successor to Billy Skuse, who will retire on 31st August. John will commence his work in the Diocese on 1st August in order to facilitate induction and transition of roles.

John de Montfort was born in Sri Lanka, where his father, Henry, was in the tea trade. His family lived there until 1977, when his father moved to Kenya to set up a Tea Broking company. He went to Canford School in Dorset, UK and then on to Reading University, where he graduated in History. After graduation, John spent two years in the antiques trade, particularly in porcelain, before starting training as a Chartered Management Accountant while working for Abbey National Bank. While in London he participated in amateur dramatics, appearing in ‘Midsummer Night’s Dream’ and Goldoni’s ‘Servant of Two Masters’. 

After qualifying, John served as Financial Controller for Rupert Cavendish Antiques, which specialised in Swedish furniture and Design. A chance meeting some years earlier led to John joining the international mine clearance charity, the HALO Trust, in 1998 and he lived in Dumfriesshire, Scotland to serve as Finance Officer for the organisation. His duties involved control visits to the various countries that HALO operated in, including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Mozambique and Angola.

John is married to Emily, from Celbridge, County Kildare. They met in London and moved to Ireland in 2000 where John worked as Financial Controller of Bubble Brothers, a wine retailer in Cork City. He later worked for Hobart Enterprises in Mallow, County Cork which deals in Chemicals and Agricultural products throughout the world. He has most recently worked in Financial Reporting at the Cork Office of the Bank of New York Mellon.

John lives with Emily in Buttevant, County Cork. They have one son, Frederick, who is training to be a teacher. John participates in productions run by the Doneraile Drama Society and is a keen gardener, amongst other interests. His father was brought up in Castletownroche, County Cork where his grandfather, Archibald, was Rector.

Announcing John’s appointment, Bishop Colton said:

I am delighted to make this announcement and about the fruitful outcome of our recruitment process to find a successor to Mr Billy Skuse who has served us so creatively and faithfully since 2015.

John de Montfort will clearly bring a wide range of gifts, professional qualifications, as well as a broad worldview and rich tapestry of life experiences to this demanding and diverse portfolio of roles in our Diocese, and to the significant number of charities which we partner and support. I am greatly looking forward to working with him.

The Diocesan Secretary is the lead officer within the diocesan administrative and financial structures of the United Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross, working closely with the Bishop in advancing the ministry and mission of the Diocese, and serving the people of Cork, Cloyne and Ross.