30 July 2001

PROFESSOR FABIAN MONDS TO CHAIR INVEST NORTHERN IRELAND

Professor Fabian Monds, has been appointed as the Shadow Chairman of Invest Northern Ireland (INI), the new economic development agency which will come into existence early in 2002, Sir Reg Empey, MLA, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment, announced this morning.

In addition, the Minister also announced seven members of the Shadow Board who will support the Chairman as final plans for Invest Northern Ireland are drawn up. They are:

Frank Bunting: Mr Bunting is currently Northern Secretary to the Irish National Teachers Organisation.

Dr Patrick Haren: Dr Haren is Group Chief Executive of the Viridian Group PLC, which is Northern Ireland’s largest listed company, whose major subsidiary is Northern Ireland Electricity.

Gilbert Little: Mr Little is founder and shareholder of a number of companies, all of which are engaged in the telecommunications/software sector.

Dr Alan McClure: Dr McClure is President and Chief Executive Officer of Perfecseal Inc., the world’s second-largest sterile medical packaging group.

Bill McGinnis: Mr McGinnis is Chairman of the McAvoy Group Limited and was previously Chairman and Managing Director of Sperrin Metal Products Limited.

Derek Shaw: Mr Shaw has wide experience in the agriculture, food processing and textile industries, both locally and overseas.

Teresa Townsley: Teresa Townsley, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, is currently Managing Partner of MTF, a successful business group encompassing accountancy, consultancy, corporate finance and training.

Speaking this morning at a press conference at the Department's Headquarters, Sir Reg said: "Professor Monds is well known and respected throughout the business and academic communities in Northern Ireland. He will bring to the job of Chairman a wealth of experience, together with the knowledge and understanding of the world economy.

"He is a natural leader who will give strategic leadership to his Board and the staff of Invest Northern Ireland and together they will play a crucial role in shaping the new Agency, particularly in the transition period.

"Over the next few months Professor Monds and his Board will appoint a Chief Executive, develop and define the Agency's structure and formation, develop its corporate identity and draw up its first Corporate Plan.

"Invest Northern Ireland will have a staff in excess of 600 and the Chairman will work closely with the Chief Executive to ensure that staff are properly deployed and integrated into the planning and decision making process. The Agency will have a budget of over £200 million and the Board will have a responsibility to oversee how that money is put to use.

"Professor Monds and his Shadow Board have taken on a tremendously responsible challenge and I wish them every success in the task ahead."

Responding to the Minister's remarks, Professor Monds said: "Invest Northern Ireland starts from a position of strength and will build on the individual track records of the existing agencies to achieve even greater economic success.

"It will be a vibrant, independent organisation, with the resources and influence necessary to make a real difference. It must be capable of reacting quickly to changing conditions in a fiercely competitive international marketplace.

"Northern Ireland needs an economy which is balanced, where equal importance is given to both new and traditional industries and where large and small businesses are give the proper priority.

"Powerful economic benefits will be gained if we can develop an environment in which businesses can flourish," Professor Monds added.

To allow him to concentrate on the establishment of Invest Northern Ireland Professor Monds is standing down from the chairmanship of the Industrial Research and Technology Unit. Sir Reg has, therefore, appointed Ralph Bauer, a long-serving IRTU Board Member, as the new chairman.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

Professor Fabian Monds: Professor Monds is Emeritus Professor of Information Systems in the University of Ulster. He is a founding partner of Medical and Scientific Computer Services Ltd., Lisburn and of WesternConnect Ltd., Londonderry and has contributed to economic development and inward investment initiatives, particularly in Londonderry, Fermanagh, Omagh and West Belfast. He currently holds the following positions; BBC National Governor for Northern Ireland and Chairman of the Information Age Initiative. He was formerly Chairman of the Industrial Research and Technology Unit Board.

Frank Bunting: Mr Bunting is currently Northern Secretary to the Irish National Teachers Organisation. He is a Director of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Northern Ireland Business Education Board and a member of their Economic Development Forum.

Dr Patrick Haren: Dr Haren is Group Chief Executive of the Viridian Group PLC, which is Northern Ireland’s largest listed company, whose major subsidiary is Northern Ireland Electricity. He is currently a member of the DETI’s Economic Development Forum and was a Steering Group Member of the Department of Economic Development’s Strategy Review – Strategy Steering Group. Until recently he was Chairman of the NI Growth Challenge.

Gilbert Little: Mr Little is founder and shareholder of a number of companies, all of which are engaged in the telecommunications/software sector. Two of these companies, Aldiscon and Apion, were sold in 1997 and 1999 respectively to multinational companies. Current ventures include software development, turnkey contracting, network planning and operations in the wireless/internet sector. He is an engineer and barrister with approximately 25 years experience in international business. Mr Little is a Board member of the IDB.

Dr Alan McClure: Dr McClure is President and Chief Executive Officer of Perfecseal Inc., the world’s second-largest sterile medical packaging group. He is President of the Londonderry Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the North West Chambers of Commerce Initiative. He currently holds appointments as Commissioner on the Londonderry Port and Harbour Board and Board Member of the BBC Broadcasting Council.

Mr Bill McGinnis: Mr McGinnis is Chairman of the McAvoy Group Limited and was previously Chairman and Managing Director of Sperrin Metal Products Limited. He currently holds the positions of Chairman on the Training and Employment Agency Board and Member on the Belfast Harbour Commission Board. He currently also holds Member positions on the New Deal Task Force, London and the Prince’s Trust. Previously he was President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Mr Derek Shaw: Mr Shaw has wide experience in the agriculture, food processing and textile industries, both locally and overseas. He is currently Director of Elmfield Management Services Ltd, Linden Foods Ltd and Shaws Farms Ltd. Mr Shaw is currently Chairman of the Armagh and Dungannon Health and Social Services Trust and a member of the IDB Board.

Mrs Teresa Townsley: Teresa Townsley, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, is currently Managing Partner of MTF, a successful business group encompassing accountancy, consultancy, corporate finance and training. Mrs Townsley has spent most of her career in developing and funding small business, specialising lately in the technology and biotech fields. She has been a Board Member of LEDU for five years, currently holding the position of Deputy Chairperson. In the past she has held non-Executive positions with the Broadcasting Council (BBC), South Eastern Education and Library Board and was a player in the development of the Local Enterprise Network.

Professor Monds has been appointed as Chairman for a period of three years, while the members of the Shadow Board have been appointed for a period of between three and five years.

The Chairman will receive an annual remuneration of £35,000 while Shadow Board members will receive £10,000 per annum.

None of the appointees has carried out any significant political activity in the last five years.

The Industrial Development Bill – the legislation required to set up Invest Northern Ireland (INI) - was introduced to the Assembly on 25 June 2001 and the Second Stage was completed on 3 July. The Bill will now pass to Committee Stage in mid-September.

Mr Ralph Bauer is the chairman of Franklin’s International Ltd and a long-serving member of the Board of the Industrial Research and Technology Unit (IRTU). He has spent most of his career in the textile industry and has served on numerous industry and education bodies. He has a keen interest in innovation in traditional industry and is a member of the Northern Ireland Foresight Advisory Committee.

For further information, please contact the DETI Press Office on (028) 9052 9604 or email: press.office@detini.gov.uk