Louth native Nicola O’Brien appointed CEO of care providers Embrace and Sánas
Embrace is a provider of residential care services across Ireland while Sánas delivers alternative respite
Embrace Community Services and Sánas Ireland have announced that both organisations will come under a unified leadership structure with the appointment of Nicola O’Brien as Chief Executive Officer, effective April 15th, 2026.
Embrace is a provider of residential care services across Ireland, supporting individuals to live independently in safe, community-based environments, while Sánas delivers alternative respite and tailored support services for children and young adults with intellectual disabilities.
In a statement Embrace and Sánas said: "This development marks an important step in strengthening both organisations for the future, while maintaining their individual identities, services and continued commitment to the people and families they support.
"Nicola O’Brien, a native of Louth, brings over 20 years’ experience leading complex, multi-site organisations through periods of growth and change. She is recognised for her people-centred leadership style and her focus on building strong, accountable teams that deliver high-quality, sustainable services.
"In her role as CEO, Nicola will lead both organisations in continuing to provide safe, person-centred supports, while further strengthening leadership capability and ensuring long-term sustainability as Embrace and Sánas continue to grow."
James Magrane, Founder and Director of Embrace and Sánas, said: “We are delighted to welcome Nicola as CEO at a very important time for both organisations. Embrace and Sánas have grown significantly in recent years, and Nicola’s leadership of our new unified structure, is a strategic appointment to ensure that we continue to deliver high-quality, person-centred supports while planning for future sustainable growth.”
Nicola O’Brien, Chief Executive Officer of Embrace and Sánas, said: “I am pleased to be joining Embrace and Sánas at such an important stage in their development. Both organisations have built strong reputations for delivering exemplary person-centred, high-quality services, and I look forward to working closely with the board and the wider teams to support their continued growth and development.”