Mulvey joins INM board on O’Brien nomination

Independent News and Media (INM) has confirmed the appointment of Kieran Mulvey as a non-executive director to its board after his nomination by Denis O’Brien, who controls the largest shareholding in the media company.

“The board has determined that Mr Mulvey should not be considered to be independent on application of the independence criteria set by the UK corporate governance code,” it said.

It comes as INM fights a High Court bid, by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, to have an inspector appointed to the company following claims made by former INM chief executive Robert Pitt.

Mr Mulvey is best known for his work as an industrial mediator heading up the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Relations Commission over many years until 2016. He was involved as a mediator in the recent talks between Ryanair and the Irish pilots’ union.

Mr Mulvey was also on the boards of UCD, the Independent Radio and Television Commission, and the National Economic and Social Council, and is currently a director of DCU, chairman of Adare Human Resources, and chair of Sport Ireland.

Separately, Mr O’Brien’s Digicel, the mobile phone firm that operates in the Carribean and other markets, said chief financial officer Ray Leclercq will be leaving next month. “Digicel is a unique company embracing significant change and I am happy to have been a part of that journey,” he said.

Digicel also said it appointed Jean-Yves Charlier to its board.