Key board members handed new briefs following IBEC review

THE employers' organisation IBEC has completed its first major strategic review since it was established in 1993.

As a result of the review, the organisation is to redirect more of its efforts towards the promotion of the wider business agenda as part of an effort to be seen as a less exclusively industrial relations-driven body.

While the seven-person executive board remains unchanged, key members are being given new responsibilities.

IBEC’s director of economic policy Danny McCoy is being handed the enterprise policy and social policy portfolios and becomes the new director of policy. He will have charge of everything from energy and transport to areas such as equality and work- life balance.

Enterprise director Brendan Butler is being given what is, in effect, a new external affairs brief covering everything form globalisation to the joint business council with the North.

IBEC already has a large presence in Brussels. The organisation will be expected to examine the possibility of opening up offices in other overseas locations.

The current social policy and European affairs director Maria Cronin will take charge of a newly created communications, media and marketing directorship.

Communications with the membership was an area of weakness identified during the course of the review.

Pat Delaney, the former director of the Small Firms Association, who recently joined the executive board as director of sectors, is being given responsibility for the eight IBEC regions.

The review was completed under the presidency of Gary McGann, the Dublin Airport Authority chairman and Smurfit Group chief operations officer. Up to 200 interviews were carried out by the consultants engaged — Malachy Smith and Gerry Watson.

While the consultants have concluded that IBEC has a strong brand image and is an “effective power player”, a key conclusion was that greater emphasis needs to be placed on the needs of industry.

It is considered that the organisation’s industrial relations and employer representation responsibilities are discharged effectively, but that there needs to be a greater emphasis on HR support.