Extension of Non-Executive Member Appointments for the Board of Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC)

The Department for Infrastructure Minister, Nichola Mallon, has announced that the appointment terms of existing members of the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC) have been extended.

Minister Mallon said:

“I want to take this opportunity to thank the members for the strategic leadership they have provided to Translink, particularly over the past few challenging months, and for their agreement to continue as Board members for a further period.  This is a time where continued vigilance is needed to arrest the increase in Covid transmission rates and where huge efforts are also needed to help our communities and economy to recover sustainably.  Now, more than ever, our public transport service needs strong and consistent leadership and a clear focus on building back better.”

The extensions are effective from 1 October 2020 to 30 June 2021. 

These extensions have been made in accordance with the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland’s Code of Practice.

Notes to editors: 

1. The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company (NITHC) is a Public Corporation which was established by the Transport Act (NI) 1967.  Its responsibilities include holding and managing property assets and the oversight, in terms of support, control and supervision, of its private limited subsidiary companies, the principal ones being Ulsterbus, Metro (previously Citybus) and Northern Ireland Railways, trading jointly as Translink.  It is expected to operate commercially and has a duty to operate in line with Ministerial policy. 
2. The Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company currently have a membership of an Interim Chair, three Executive Members and four Non Executive Members.  The Non-Executive Members of the NITHC Board currently receive remuneration of £12,606 per annum.
3. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. All Members have declared that they have not undertaken any political activity. 
4. An open public appointment competition for NITHC Non-Executive Members is scheduled for later in 2020/21.
5. Biographical Details

• Dr. Sweeney is currently serving as Interim Chair of NITHC for which he receives remuneration of £36,061 per annum. He has a background in the industrial, commercial and manufacturing sectors within Northern Ireland, Europe and the USA. He is a former Vice President of Caterpillar and Managing Director of FG Wilson. He graduated from Queens University, Belfast with a 1st class honours degree and PhD in Mechanical Engineering. He is a Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He was President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry from 2006-2008. In 2007 he was awarded an OBE for services to business and in 2011, an Honorary D.Sc. Degree from Queen's University. He is a current Non-Executive Director of Invest NI for which he receives remuneration of £12,517 per annum.
• Mr Depledge has served on the Board of Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company since 2011. He has a background in transport management. He is the former Director of Transport Policy for Arriva plc. He has held a number of board positions, including Transport for Edinburgh Ltd, Lothian Buses Ltd and Blackpool Grand Theatre Ltd.  He chairs the Board of Directors of Universitybus Ltd, the bus company owned by the University of Hertfordshire. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics. He is an honorary President of the European Union Committee of the international transport trade association UITP, having chaired that Committee from 2009 to 2013.
• Mr Mitchell has served on the Board of Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company since 2012.  He has a background in the Health and Social Care sector and is a former Trust Chief Executive. He is also an independent member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Police Ombudsman NI (until October 2020) for which he receives £60 per hour. On a voluntary basis, he is a member of the Advisory Board of Marie Curie, NI.
• Mrs McCartan is a chartered accountant by profession.  She holds an MBA.  Mrs McCartan has held a number of senior management posts in the private sector including the role of Finance Director, and a number of non-executive roles in the public sector.  Mrs McCartan is currently a Non-Executive Director (Finance) of the Southern Health and Social Care Trust (DoH) for which she receives remuneration of £8,283 per annum and is a Non-executive Member of the Youth Justice Agency Management Board (DoJ) which is remunerated at a daily attendance rate of £500.  She is the Chair of the Remuneration and Pensions Committee of the NITHC Board.
• Ms Reavey has a background in Finance. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has her own consultancy practice. She is an Associate Advisor for the Strategic Investment Board. She is a former Non-Executive Director of the NI Science Park Foundation Ltd (2000-2010), a former Trustee for the NI Science Park Trust (2010 to 2015) and also a Board Member for Firmus Energy. She does not currently hold any other public appointments.

6. All media queries in relation to the Northern Ireland Transport Holding Company should be directed to the Department for Infrastructure Press Office by e-mail: press.office@infrastructure-ni.gov.uk
7. The Executive Information Service operates an out of hour’s service for media enquiries between 1800hrs and 0800hrs Monday to Friday and at weekends and public holidays. The duty press officer can be contacted on 028 9037 8110.
8. Follow the Department for Infrastructure on Twitter @deptinfra and on Facebook @DepartmentforInfrastructure.

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