13th April 2002

Coillte changes

Major changes have taken place recently in the upper echelons of Coillte affecting both personnel and the management structure in the company.

Michael Carey, one of the key players in the development of the company, who has been general manager with responsibility for the core timber production business for many years, is taking early retirement. Michael will probably make the point that he was doing the work of two men but, in fact, his area of responsibility has been broadened out and will be divided into two new positions.

Tim Crowley has been appointed as Director of Forestry, a role focusing on production forestry, while Jim Dillon has been appointed as Director of Forest Establishment. Tim has been Southern Regional manager with Coillte for a number of years, based in Cork, and he will now divide his time between Dublin and Cork.

Jim Dillon has been Regional manager of the Mid-Southern Region (which has now been abolished), based in Limerick, and is a familiar face to many farmers because of his active involvement in Coillte's Farm Partnership Scheme, in recent years. He will now have national responsibility for all planting, both company and partnership.

A second member of the senior management team to take early retirement is Paul Byrne, who has been Company Secretary since Coillte was established in 1989.

Once again, there is significant redeployment of responsibilities as Gerry Egan, who is currently Head of Public Affairs, is going to take over the Secretaryship while continuing to head up the PR section.