Cork County Council CEO to step down
The CEO of Cork County Council has confirmed he will be stepping down to take a new position as head of Greyhound Racing Ireland (GRI).
Tim Lucey, who has been CEO of the local authority since 2014, made the surprise announcement last week and is set to assume his new role this November.
The move will bring an end to the Bandon native’s 40 year career in local government during which time he served as CEO for Cork City Council, assistant county manager for North Cork, and head of corporate affairs for Cork County Council.
Extensively qualified in accountancy, company direction, and business, Mr Lucey is a member of the Institute of Directors and a member of the Board of the Institute of Public Administration (IPA), the Local Government Management Agency, and Promoting Cork Ltd.
“I am honoured to accept the position of CEO and I am very much looking forward to working with the Board of Directors and staff of GRI and the vibrant greyhound community across Ireland,” said Mr Lucey.
He continued: “I am committed to using my extensive experience in corporate leadership and management, crisis management, communications, and stakeholder engagement in complex multi-sectoral environments to further develop a commercial greyhound racing industry built on a high-quality entertainment, consumer-focused product, which meets the highest international regulatory and welfare standards.”
Mr Lucey takes on the role following what was described as an extensive recruitment process by GRI chairperson Frank Nyhan.
“Tim is a tremendously experienced leader and we are delighted to announce that he will be joining our organisation,” said Mr Nyhan.
He added: “John Tuohey will remain as interim CEO until Tim takes up his new position and GRI would like to acknowledge and thank John for his contribution during this transition.”
According to John Tuohey, Interim CEO of GRI, the organisation will “greatly benefit” from Mr Lucey’s wealth of experience in corporate and financial governance and his management of Ireland’s largest local authority by area.
“On behalf of staff, I want to congratulate Tim and I look forward to him taking up his new position this November,” said Mr Tuohey.
GRI is a commercial semi-state body responsible for the control and development of the greyhound industry in the Republic of Ireland and has licensed 14 tracks across the country, 9 of which nine are owned and controlled by the organisation. The remainder are owned and operated by private enterprise.