A new chief executive officer has been appointed to spearhead next year’s Volvo Ocean Race stopover in Galway.
Dublin native Fintan Healy, previously a commercial director for business support systems providers Intec, is the first permanent appointment made by Let’s Do It Global, the group organising the event to celebrate the finishing leg of the prestigious round the world yacht race.
According to Enda O Coineen of LDIG, Healy was appointed following a selection process which attracted more than 20 applicants, and he will be charged with overseeing the festival and “global village” that will be staged at the conclusion of the 2011/2012 race.
The appointment follows a commitment from a group of local businesses to fund the wages (a seed fund ) of professionals which LDIG needs to employ throughout the event planning. This is expected to cost between €250,000 and €300,000, while the organisers hope to raise another €3.5 million from public sponsorship. The Government funding of €4m is Volvo’s fee for bringing the event to Galway.
“Currently we are closing a seed fund to support the project,” says O’Coineeen, “ and kick-start the drive over the next year - starting with a Year to Go event planned for July 1.”
The new CEO will report to a new advisory board of directors which will be announced in the near future.
“Clearly the commercial, social and cultural benefits to Galway and Ireland will be enormous from the event. Our big challenge is to connect to the corporate world, connect those who benefit with those who pay, generate enterprise, and make sure everybody has a lot of fun in the process - while doing something worthwhile as a community for the collective good,” says O’Coineen.
Healy’s job will include heading a small team of committed professionals, volunteers, and the local and national business communities with “special focus on ensuring a highly rewarding event is shared by all”.
O’Coineen says Healy brings a successful track record in “delivering complex projects on time, within budget, and with over 15 years senior director-level experience in leading high performance teams to achieve exceptional results”.
According to his CV, Healy has managed operations in Europe, Middle East and Africa with responsibility for multi-million budgets, revenue delivery, and profitability.
He has knowledge of Galway having been recruited from London to Galway 15 years ago and was a founder and chairman of the Information Technology Association of Galway, a member of the Governing Board of the Information Communication and Technology Association of Ireland, and formed strong working relationships with the IDA, Enterprise Ireland, and Galway Chamber.
