Munster Express Online

Former Waterford Wedgwood CEO Redmond O’Donoghue is the new chairman of Fáilte Ireland, having been handed the high-profile post by Tourism Minister Martin Cullen yesterday.He starts his five-year term of office with the National Tourism Development Authority straight away, replacing Gillian Bowler.

The Minister also re-appointed four outgoing board members, including Aer Arann boss Pádraig Ó Céidigh and Kerry football legend and publican, Páidí Ó Sé.

Mr Cullen described Redmond O’Donoghue – who was chairman of Bord Fáilte between 1999 and 2001 – as “an accomplished and highly-skilled business professional” with “a gift to lead and an innate ability to identify and seize opportunities which will undoubtedly help sustain the Irish tourism performance in the coming years.

“His wide range of high-level experience both nationally and internationally combined with his vibrancy and enthusiasm for the job in hand, will be of enormous benefit,” he added.

Mr O’Donoghue was educated at Waterpark College and UCD, and also studied at Harvard Business School in the US. He is an honorary fellow of WIT and chairman of the institute’s governing body.

After 17 years with the Ford Motor company in Ireland, the UK and Spain, he joined Waterford Wedgwood plc as the crystal division’s sales and marketing director. He retired in 2005 as group CEO after almost 20 years in senior positions and remains on the boards of both Waterford Crystal and the parent company.

Also a former President and present national executive member of IBEC South East, Mr O’Donoghue is chairman of Good Food Ireland and a member of the Board of Greencore plc. He chaired the Marketing Institute of Ireland in 1996-’97.

Still living in his native Waterford city, Redmond is married to Anthea Goodbody and the couple have two grown-up children, Chris and Lynn.