Mary Coghlan - New CEO

thirtyfoot

This is a very bold move but one that I think is a great for our sport. Mary is young, smart and knows the sport from both ends - having a brother who is argubably our greatest ever sprinter (13.30 high hurdles) and herself at the other end (no offence to her) a decent club athlete. Reading her statement below its all positive and very professional, ticking all the boxes, keeping all happy and showing a great understanding of the sport. Lets just hope the fogies let her do her job. Communication is bound to improve now at least;)


“I am delighted to be appointed CEO of what is Ireland’s most successful international sports organisation. Athletics Ireland is in the very fortunate and enviable position of receiving outstanding support from the Irish Sports Council as well as having thousands of volunteers up and down the length and breath of the country who coach children, organise competitions and build facilities out of a sense of passionate community involvement.

“My 2 years experience on the board has equipped me well for the challenges that lie ahead and I am really looking forward to working in close cooperation with the Irish Sports Council, our 25,000 members, the current staff, sponsors and partners to ensure the continued success of our sport,”

DaveH

Congratulations to Mary, she's a nice girl, I've met her a couple of times and she's very plesent.
She wont be coaching any other sports anyway.

Its very important the correct chair of Finance & Risk is appointed. Gerry Giblin is the outstanding contender. A man steeped in Athletics and has a very impressive business backround.

Best of luck to Mary and hopefully the right person is ellected to the Finance & risk position on Saturday.

Rineanna

Here's me thinking that it must be an awful step down in salary from the Department of Agriculture!:D

Best of luck to her.

While I agree it's a bold move of sorts, it seems to be a tad safer than that of the appointment of Brendan Hackett. If I understand the situation correctly, wasn't he appointed from completely outside athletics circles? At least the new CEO is promoted from within, so to speak, so to keep the 'old fogies' happy.

What I hope to see her do during her reign (not, by any means, exhaustive) :

• Establishment of a High Performance Centre, possibly in one of the Universities.
• Construction of an international standard indoor arena/training strip
• Encourage more high standard International competition to be held in Ireland.

DaveH

Hackett was well steeped in Athletics. He was a member of Donore Harrriers, he also coach Noel Cullen.
Hackett had good business acumen too, just didnt happen for him at AAI.

Pherekydes

Congrats to Mary.

A bit surprised, but it's a step in the right direction. I note with some pleasure that she has a degree in Maths.

thirtyfoot

DaveH wrote: »

Congratulations to Mary, she's a nice girl, I've met .

You sound a bit like Georgie Burgess there:D

Pherekydes

Anyone reckon Mary had anything to do with this decision?

Mark Carroll announcement