The appointments are for a period of three years and will take effect from 7 July 2008. The two non-executive directors are Declan Gormley and Donald Price.
The Minister said: “I am delighted to welcome two locally based business people on to the Board of NIW. Between them, they have a great depth and breadth of experience which will enable them to meet the challenge of their future roles at this critical time for the organisation.
“The new members will strengthen the current non-executive team in the key challenge role which it plays in holding the executive team of the company to account. The Board will continue to exercise independent judgement on issues of strategy, performance, governance and executive appointments. It will provide constructive input to the development of strategic objectives and policies, whilst working to pursue efficiency across the organisation with improved quality of service to customers.”
The full Board will comprise five non-executive and three executive Directors. Collectively the non-executives bring an extensive range of experience from a wide variety of backgrounds in the commercial and public sectors. The new members will take up their appointments immediately and join their Board colleagues for their first meeting later in the summer.
The new non-executive directors are:
Declan Gormley
Mr Gormley (50) is a former General Manager of Saxone (Ireland), UK Operations Director with British Shoe Corporation and most recently Managing Director of Ulster Weavers Apparel Ltd.
He also currently holds the position of Deputy Chairman on the Action Renewables Board.
Donald Price
Mr Price (55) is a former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Board Director of the Northern Bank, where he currently is a non-executive director. A former Managing Director of NIR and the Belfast Telegraph, he is a Fellow of the Institute of Bankers and a member of the CBI and IoD.
Notes to Editors:
- NI Water (formerly Water Service) is the sole provider of water and sewerage services in Northern Ireland, with over 780,000 domestic, agricultural, commercial and business customers. The non-executive directors have been appointed by the Minister through a Public Appointments process, carried out in accordance with the Office of the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland (OCPA NI) Monitored Kitemark Scheme.
- There will be a total of five non-executive Directors on the NIW Board, including the Chair.
- Each non-executive Director will be paid £18,000 per annum on the basis of two days attendance per month. An additional per diem allowance may be payable subject to an overall maximum of £21,000 per annum.
- All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, in accordance with the original Nolan recommendations, there is a requirement for the political activity of appointees (if any declared) to be published.
- Mr Gormley and Mr Price have declared that they have not engaged in any political activity for the past five years.
- For further press queries, please contact Anne Armstrong, DRD Press Office: 905 40817. Out of office hours please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.
