Minister Creed appoints Ms. Bernie Gray as Chairperson of Coillte

Minister Creed appoints Ms. Bernie Gray as Chairperson of Coillte

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed T.D., today announced that he has appointed Ms. Bernie Gray as Chairperson of Coillte for a five year period. Ms. Gray was appointed following a competitive process conducted by the Public Appointments Service (PAS) in accordance with the Guidelines for Appointments to State Boards.

Making the announcement, the Minister commented, “I am delighted to be appointing somebody of the calibre of Bernie Gray to role of Chair of Coillte Board. She has significant Board experience and a range of management and governance skills which will be hugely beneficial in the strategic development of the company. Coillte has developed and evolved over the 30 years since its establishment and I look forward to its continued participation in, and contribution to, the development of the forestry sector in Ireland”.

Minister Creed also took the opportunity to thank the outgoing Chairman, Mr. John Moloney, for overseeing the restructuring of Coillte during his tenure, enabling it to significantly improve its performance and profitability. “John’s work is very much appreciated as it has put Coillte on a firm footing for the future. I am delighted to be appointing Bernie Gray now to take Coillte to its next phase of growth and I wish her every success in the role”

Andrew Doyle, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine with responsibility for Forestry, added, “I would like to warmly welcome Bernie Gray as Chairperson of Coillte and acknowledge the work done by her predecessor John Moloney. Coillte plays a hugely important role in the Irish forestry sector given the extent of its forest assets. I look forward to engaging with Bernie and the Coillte Board on an ongoing basis to continue the development of forestry in Ireland”.

Note for Editors:

The appointment was made following a competitive process managed by the PAS (Public Appointments Service) and Ms Gray has been appointed for a five year period effective from 13 March 2019.

Bernie Gray is a Certified Public Accountant, with expertise in a number of areas include Board governance, change management, Human Resources (HR), business coaching and business restructuring. She holds a B.Sc. Public Administration (Hons.) from TCD and a post graduate Diploma in Executive coaching from UCD. She is also a Chartered Director (Institute of Directors).

Ms. Gray was Chairperson of the Board of EirGrid from 2006 until 2013. She formerly worked with Eircom between 1984 and 2002, holding a number of management positions within the Finance and HR areas and latterly served as HR Director from 1998 to 2002. She also served as a Worker Director of the company between 1988 and 1992.

Ms. Gray is currently a member of the Accountability Board of the Civil Service, the Governing Authority of DCU and the GAA National Audit & Risk Committee. . She has held a number of other non–executive roles in the State and not for profit sectors including Board member Irish Payment Services Organisation, Public Appointments Service and Business in the Community.

ENDS

Press and Information Office

An Roinn Talmhaíochta, Bia agus Mara

Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine

An Teach Talmhaíochta, Sráid Chill Dara, Baile Átha Cliath 2, D02 WK12

Agriculture House, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, D02 WK12

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www.agriculture.gov.ie

About Coillte

Coillte, Ireland’s largest commercial forestry company, manages approximately 7% of the country’s land. Coillte operate three strong businesses from this land - its core forestry business, a wood panels manufacturing business MEDITE SMARTPLY and a land solutions business. Coillte export to over 30 countries worldwide and in the financial year 31 December 2016 generated EBITDA of €98.3 million from its €1.5 billion asset. Coillte’s vision is to be the best forestry and land solutions company in Europe.

The Irish forestry sector supports 12,000 rural based jobs in Ireland, contributes approximately €2.3 billion to the economy every year and has the potential to double in size over the next ten years.

Visit www.coillte.ie to learn more