Meet the Team
Our Strategic Leadership Team is dedicated to supporting our clients, people and stakeholders.
With an exceptional level of experience, they work collaboratively to oversee all aspects of the business to deliver growth and innovation according to a clear set of company values.
Sean Fitzpatrick
Chairman
Following a first career teaching maths and computing in the 1970’s, Sean along with his then business partner, Bart Keaney, set up the VGC Group in 1977. They subsequently spent the next few decades growing the business.
In his current role as chairman, Sean supports the leadership team to ensure the business strategy meets the long-term ambitions of the Group. He has always upheld the highest professional and ethical standards, and his previous career in teaching has underpinned VGC’s philosophy of investing in learning and development to create our industry leaders of the future.
Sean is married with 4 daughters & 8 grandchildren, enjoys holidaying in the Algarve and watching rugby.
Ciara Pryce
Chief Executive Officer
With over two decades at VGC, Ciara Pryce climbed through the ranks culminating in her appointment as Chief Executive Officer in 2025 overseeing the strategic expansion of the group. A graduate with a master’s in Human Resource Management, Ciara initially joined VGC in 2002, taking on key responsibilities in HR and corporate responsibility before expanding her remit to head office oversight of HR, finance, IT, marketing, and more.
Under her leadership, VGC has set industry benchmarks in ethical recruitment and social responsibility. The business earned the HS2 Inspiration Award for Modern Slavery Prevention and became the first to gain the CHAS Social Sustainability accreditation. As Founder of the VGC Academy, she spearheaded a company-wide development framework focused on innovation, resilience, and modern slavery awareness.
Ciara is an influential leader beyond VGC—recognized in the UK’s top 100 Modern Slavery influencers in 2018 and featured in LDC’s Top 50 Most Ambitious Business Leaders. She continues to actively engage in government and industry working groups to lobby on areas such as diversity, labour risk, and ethical employment practices. Driven by her passion for fairness, inclusion, and sustainability, Ciara has led VGC’s employee-first culture—emphasising flexibility, development, safety and wellbeing.
Positions of responsibility:
- Recruitment & Employment Confederation – Advisory Board
- FIR ambassador
- Founding member of the ‘Leading Ladies/
Beyond the Office Ciara balances her professional life with family, raising two young boys and actively supporting her husband’s craft beer business.
Chris Ryan
Chief Operating Officer
With over 20 years of dedicated service at VGC Group, Chris Ryan has consistently driven growth and operational excellence across the business. Beginning his journey in 2003 on High‑Speed 1 and regional rail schemes, Chris progressed through roles before becoming Managing Director of VGC Labour Solutions in 2021 and helped shape VGC’s national footprint expanding regional capability.
In 2025, his remit expanded when he was appointed COO of VGC Group, Chris has since led operational delivery and strategic business development.
Chris holds an HND in Quantity Surveying from Northumbria University and carries multiple professional certifications: MCIOB (chartered construction manager), MICW, FIR Ambassador, NVQ Level 7 in Construction Senior Management, IOSH safety qualifications for senior executives and railway industries, CMI NVQ 4 in Management.
Beyond the Office
Chris is family-focused and actively involved in VGC’s workplace culture. Married with two children, he’s a keen sportsman—enjoying cricket, football, and rugby—and has a passion for music.
Steve Kenny
Managing Director
Peter Ball
Legal Director
Chris Hoyle
Finance Director
Chris joined VGC as Finance Director in January 2022, responsible for the oversight and management of the accounts, payroll, and IT teams. Chris has extensive experience in financial management, financial reporting, FP&A and tax and has led the implementation and improvement of financial controls, processes, data quality, reporting and procedures within the Group. Prior to joining VGC, Chris worked for Turner & Townsend, a global management consultancy firm for 9 years, and has significant international experience, having spent 7 years in New York, and a secondment in Singapore and Hong Kong. Chris started his career working with Grant Thornton in Leeds, and is currently a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW)
Beyond the Office Outside of work, Chris enjoys visiting new countries with his wife, having travelled to almost 80 countries around the world.
Stephen Burns
Client Engagement Director
Stephen has had a broad career covering recruitment, construction and sales prior to moving into the business development role at VGC.
In his current role as client engagement director, he oversees the management of our key account relationships and supports our clients in identifying solutions to their staffing and contracting needs.
When he’s not developing VGC’s client base and exploring new areas for our business to grow into, he enjoys walking in the Scottish highlands and Lake District and exploring all the varied landscapes the UK has to offer.
