IGB Appoints new CEO

Irish Greyhound Board Appoints New Chief Executive Officer

The Irish Greyhound Board has appointed Mr. Gerard Dollard, the Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Economic Development of Clare County Council, as its new CEO.

Mr. Dollard, a native of Limerick City , has responsibility for the promotion of economic development and tourism in County Clare and  brings a significant record of long term strategic planning,  financial, human resource  and community development  expertise to the CEO  role.

In recent years, he played a key role in the promotion and development of internationally  known  tourism projects such as  the Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience and the UNESCO Burren Geopark. He has held the position of Finance Officer, Director of Service Environment and Emergency Services and Director of Service, Community and Enterprise with Clare County Council.

Mr. Dollard will now lead the organisation with overall responsibility for sixteen racing tracks, IGB and private, in Ireland and for an industry that provides direct and indirect employment to several thousand people. The Irish Greyhound Board itself employs almost 800 full and part time staff. The industry supplies the raw materials in the form of greyhounds to greyhound racing internationally, with over 83% of greyhounds racing in the U.K. being bred in Ireland.

The Chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board, Mr. Phil Meaney, warmly welcomed the appointment of the new CEO.

  “ The Irish greyhound industry is undergoing rapid change and is moving into a more positive space after a number of difficult years. Gerard Dollard has a proven, relevant  skills set as the Irish Greyhound Board  looks to the future of the industry. Our ambition is to deliver a commercial, well regulated Greyhound Racing and Breeding Industry and a customer centred, exciting and value led entertainment experience. The Board and I look forward  to working with Gerard to realise these objectives.”

Gerard Dollard