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Kennedy appoints new chair of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority

Regional Development Minister Danny Kennedy, today announced the appointment of Peter Fitzsimmons as Chair of the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority.
~ Tuesday, 11 October 2011

The appointment is for a four year period commencing on 1 October 2011.

The Minister said: “Peter Fitzsimmons will bring a wealth of senior commercial experience to his appointment as Chair of the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority. I am confident that Peter Fitzsimmons is the right person to lead the Harbour Authority through this challenging trading environment and advance the position of the Authority as a key economic driver for the local area.”

Mr Kennedy observed: “The public competition to recruit new board members to the Authority attracted a range of highly skilled candidates. I am grateful for all those who expressed an interest in serving the local community in this way.”

The Minister concluded by paying tribute to the outgoing Chair, Jim Stewart CBE and said: “I am very grateful to the outgoing Chair, Jim Stewart, for his strong and effective leadership over the past seven years. During this time, very significant capital investment was undertaken to secure the long term future of the port. I wish Jim Stewart well in his future endeavours.”

Notes to editors:

  1. The Harbour Authority has responsibility, under a series of Harbour Acts and Orders, for improving, maintaining and managing the harbour. The constitution of the Authority was established under the Warrenpoint Harbour Authority Order (NI) 2002 (No 42). The Authority currently has a membership of a Chairman and eight members, including the serving Chief Executive, the Financial Director, and three, yet to be appointed, representatives from Newry and Mourne District Council. The Chair of the Authority currently receives remuneration of £19,732.56 per annum and members receive £6,577.68.
  2. The process of making this appointment was carried out by means of an open, public competition in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments NI (CPANI) Kitemark Scheme.
  3. The new appointee, Peter Fitzsimmons, replaces Jim Stewart CBE who has served two terms as Chair of the Authority since October 2004.
  4. Mr Fitzsimmons has confirmed that he has not undertaken any political activity within the last five years.
  5. No other appointments on the Board were affected by this competition.
  6. Peter Fitzsimmons was previously employed as Sales and Marketing Director of SCA Packaging for the UK and Ireland and subsequently moved to the role of the General Manager of their Southern Region in Berkshire, England. In this capacity, covering the South of England and Wales, he was responsible for the operation of eight corrugated case factories covering all aspects of the £90million business.

           He is currently Chairman of Northern Ireland – Co-operations Overseas (NI-CO). This is a part-time role in an organisation which sells the public sector skills of Northern Ireland to developing regions.

           For a number of years he has been a Board Member of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency, an Enterprise Agency which carries out work on behalf of organisations such as Invest NI.

           He is currently a member of the Board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority.

     7.  All media queries to the Department for Regional Development Press office on 028 9054 0817. Out of office contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.