Appointment to Warrenpoint harbour authority

Regional Development Minister, Conor Murphy today announced the appointment of local businessman, Peter Fitzsimmons, to the board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority.

The appointment is for a four year period ending on 31 March 2014.

The Minister said: “Peter Fitzsimmons brings to the board of Warrenpoint Harbour Authority a wealth of commercial experience, especially in sales and marketing.

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

“The port at Warrenpoint is a key economic gateway to the North of Ireland. I am confident that, under the leadership of the Chairman, Jim Stewart, the Harbour Authority will provide the strategic direction necessary to steer the port through the current challenging trading environment. I am sure that Mr Fitzsimmons will make a significant contribution to the efficient management of the port."

Notes to editors:

1. Warrenpoint 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 (Northern Ireland) 2002 (No 42). The Harbour Authority currently has a membership of a Chairman and ten members, including the Chief Executive, Finance Director, and three representatives from Newry and Mourne District Council. Authority Members currently receive remuneration of £6,577 per annum.
2. The appointee joins the representatives of Newry and Mourne District Council: Councillors Josephine O’Hare, Michael Ruane and William Burns. Mr Peter Conway, the port’s Chief Executive, will continue to serve as a board member in an ex-officio capacity, as will the Finance Director Kieran Grant. The remaining members of the Board are: Kieran Campbell, Bonnie Horsman, Bill Luney and Gerard McGivern.
3. The process of reconstituting the Board was carried out by means of an open, public competition in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments Northern Ireland (CPANI) Monitored Kitemark Scheme. Two further vacancies which will arise in October 2010 will be filled from this competition.
4. Mr Fitzsimmons has confirmed that he has not undertaken any political activity within the last five years.
5. In a thirty-five year career from 1972 to 2006, with multi-national manufacturing company, SCA Packaging Limited, Mr Fitzsimmons progressed through sales and marketing disciplines to become the Sales and Marketing Director for UK and Ireland and then General Manager of the Southern Region of the company which had a turnover of £370million. He currently works in Urban Forest Limited Newry and Allclear Environmental, Newry as Operations Director.
6. He has been Chairman of NI-CO (Northern Ireland – Cooperation Overseas) Limited since 2007 and is currently a voluntary Board Member of Newry and Mourne Enterprise Agency, since 1991. Other positions held in the past include; Board Member of Northern Ireland Business Education Partnership from 1995 to 1998 and Chairman of Business in the Community – Newry Group from 1993 to 1997.
7. All media queries should be directed to the Department for Regional Development on 028 9054 0004. Out of office hours please contact the duty press officer via pager number 07699 715440 and your call will be returned.