Niall Gleeson named as new Irish Water managing director

Gleeson will take over on August 6th

Niall Gleeson, currently a senior director with Shanahan Engineering, will become managing director of irish Water.
Niall Gleeson, currently a senior director with Shanahan Engineering, will become managing director of irish Water.

Irish Water has appointed a new managing director who will also serve as deputy chief executive of the company’s parent, Ervia.

Niall Gleeson, currently a senior director with Shanahan Engineering, will join the company on August 6th. He replaces interim boss Eamon Gallen who took up the role in September when Jerry Grant retired from the role.

His appointment to both Irish Water and Ervia comes after Ervia’s former chief executive announced his intention to leave the company 18 months into a seven year contract.

"I am delighted to welcome Niall Gleeson to Irish Water. Niall brings to us a wealth of engineering experience, business expertise, and leadership and engagement of teams, and the board and I are looking forward to working with him," said the chairman of Ervia's board, Tony Keohane.

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Mr Gleeson has previously worked with Veolia Ireland as managing director where he oversaw their building and operation of wastewater treatment plants on behalf of Irish Water. Before that he was managing director of Alstom Ltd.

Ervia is a State body that controls Irish Water, Gas Networks Ireland and Aurora Telecom.

When Mr Quinn announced at the end of January that he was to leave the company, it said it would begin the process of selecting a new chief executive "shortly".

Cathal Marley, the chief financial officer of Ervia, will take up the chief executive role on an interim basis from April until a permanent successor is found.

Peter Hamilton

Peter Hamilton

Peter Hamilton is a contributor to The Irish Times specialising in business