Infrastructure Minister, John O’Dowd, has announced the appointment of three Non-Executive Members to the Board of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC).
The Minister has appointed, Manish Gupta, Don Leeson, and Gráinne McVeigh to serve first terms. Minister O’Dowd said:
“I congratulate all the appointees. I am confident that their experience and knowledge will add significant value to the Board. I am committed to working with the new Members to ensure that Translink plays a full role in improving connectivity across this island; and in addressing the climate emergency.”
“I also want to take this opportunity to put on record my sincere thanks to the outgoing members, Marie Mallon and Sharon O’Connor for their invaluable contribution to the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company during their tenure.”
The appointments are effective from 1 October 2024.These appointments have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s Code of Practice.
Notes to editors:
- The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC) is a Public Corporation which was established by the Transport Act (NI) 1967. Its responsibilities include holding and managing property assets and the oversight, in terms of support, control and supervision, of its private limited subsidiary companies, the principal ones being Ulsterbus, Metro (previously Citybus) and Northern Ireland Railways, trading jointly as Translink. It is expected to operate commercially and has a duty to operate in line with Ministerial policy.
- The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company currently have a membership of a Chair, one Executive Member and four Non-Executive Members, (plus one vacancy). The Non-Executive Members of the NITHC Board currently receive remuneration of £13,189 per annum.
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. All appointees have declared that they have not undertaken any recent political activity.
- The Department for Infrastructure (DfI) does not reappoint Non-Executive Members to a second term without competition.
- The appointment term is four years.
Biographies
Manish Gupta is a former Partner of Ernst and Young, with 30 years of global experience advising public and private sector clients in the Transport and Infrastructure sector. Prior to EY, he worked with US Infrastructure developer and investor Bechtel Enterprises in London and Mumbai. Manish also acts as the Treasurer and Board Member/Trustee for the UK arm of Pratham, a reputed Indian charity focussed entirely on improving the quality of education in India He holds no other public appointments.
Don is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personal and Development. He recently retired from his position as Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Agency. Prior to this he held senior management positions with the Consumer Council NI, the NI Human Rights Commission, and the Equality Commission. He currently chairs the boards of two charities: ESC Films and the Imagine Festival of Politics and Idea (both non-remunerated). He holds no other public appointments.
Grainne holds an MBA in International Business from Ulster University and Diplomas in Marketing, Personnel Management and Company Direction, from the Institute of Directors and is a Chartered Director and has a degree in French from Lancaster University. She previously worked in Invest NI as Director of Advanced Manufacturing and Engineering and Life Sciences, where she was responsible for encouraging new investment locally and internationally and as Head of International Sales and Marketing. Current appointments include Non-Executive Director of the Consumer Council NI, for which she receives remuneration of £58.17 for under four hours and £116.32 for over four hours and as a Non-Executive Director at the Armagh Observatory and Planetarium Management Committee for which she receives travel and subsistence expenses only. She holds no other public appointments.
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