Enterprise Ireland boss to leave agency and join Shannon firm
Leo Clancy is to be new chief executive at Ei Electronics
THE BOSS of Enterprise Ireland Leo Clancy is to join Shannon firm Ei Electronics as its chief executive.
Mr Clancy will take up the role on April 1 next, succeeding Mick Guinee who is stepping down after more than 40 years at the top of the company, which produces fire alarms, and is one of the region’s biggest employers with 1,000 staff on its books.
Prior to working with Enterprise Ireland, Mr Clancy was head of technology at the job creation agency IDA Ireland.
An electronics engineer by profession, he spent the earlier part of his career in the private sector, working in global roles with Ericsson and was general manager, service delivery for the firm’s Irish operation.
He subsequently served as service delivery director with e-net, a public-private partnership, based in Limerick, delivering regional business broadband infrastructure in Ireland.
Commenting on his new role, Mr Clancy said: “I am honoured to succeed Mick Guinee as chief executive of Ei Electronics. Mick’s legacy is extraordinary, and Ei is an incredible Irish success story. I am looking forward to the opportunity of working with Mick, as chairman, and with the talented team at Ei Electronics to drive the company’s next phase of growth and innovation”.
Mr Guinee, who will become chairman of the board of directors upon his successor’s arrival, added: “Leo’s expertise, experience and empathic leadership style make him the ideal choice to lead Ei Electronics into its next chapter.”
Mr Guinee was originally appointed as managing director of the then General Electric owned Ei in 1983.
He led a management buyout and established Ei Electronics as a fully owned Irish firm in March 1988.
Under his leadership, it has grown from Shannon to subsidiaries in Britain, Germany, France, USA and Australia.
Across these locations, some 250 people also work for the company, whose world-wide sales exceed €420m.