Chamber role for airport boss

The chairman of Cork Airport Authority, Joe Gantly has been appointed as senior-vice president of Cork Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Gantly has been a long-serving chamber board member and his appointment comes five months after Roger Flack succeeded Robin O’Sullivan as overall chamber president.

Speaking after the announcement, Mr Flack told The Evening Echo: “I am delighted that someone of Joe’s status in the business community has decided to take up the role in the chamber, as he has the respect of a large number of businesses.”

Mr Gantly is the former senior director of European operations for Apple. He started his career with the Westinghouse Corporation in Pittsburgh where he held a number of senior engineering management positions.

He joined Apple in 1990 and in 1998 was appointed senior director of European Operations with responsibility for all of Apple’s European Operations functions.

He is also a member of the Dublin Airport Authority and the governing body of University College Cork.

He is an engineering graduate of Trinity College Dublin and has an MBA in Business Administration from the National University of Ireland, Galway.

Mr Flack added: “Joe is highly regarded for his work in retaining and growing Apple’s business and employment numbers in Cork as well as taking on the chairman’s job at a time of major transition at Cork International Airport.

“He brings a wealth of experience which will strengthen and enhance the chamber’s voice in Cork.”

Mr Gantly’s new role begins with immediate effect.

It’s a busy time for the airport boss with the recent news that Cork is to become Ryanair’s 15th European base and work continues on the development of Cork’s new terminal.