Former Dell executive Aongus Hegarty appointed as Governance Chair of Lero

Chair of the governance committee of Lero, Aongus Hegarty

Businessman and former Dell executive Aongus Hegarty has been appointed chair of the governance committee of Lero, the Science Foundation Ireland Research (SFI) Centre for Software.

Hosted by the University of Limerick, Lero's academic partners include University College Cork, Munster Technological University, South East Technological University and Trinity College Dublin, among others. 

Mr Hegarty takes over the position from entrepreneur, Dr Sean Baker, a co-founder of IONA Technologies plc, who has held the role since 2015.

"We are fortunate to have such a highly-regarded centre based here in Ireland," said Mr Hegarty, the former Dell Technologies President for International Markets, an organisation spanning over 170 countries.

"Along with my fellow committee members, we will harness our considerable experience to continue to support Lero’s hugely valuable academic, societal and economic contribution."

Mr Hegarty, who is also chair of the Munster Rugby Commercial Advisory Group, and Patron of the Special Olympics Ireland Council, is also a former chair of the Executive Council for the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU.

"His corporate experience and strategic acumen will be invaluable in providing the necessary oversight to ensure Lero continues to be a centre of excellence for software," said University of Limerick Vice President Research and Lero Governance Committee Member Professor Norelee Kennedy.

Director of Lero Professor Lionel Briand said the organisation would benefit from Mr Hegarty, adding that his "expertise in executive positions provides Lero with a valuable asset."

Since its founding in 2005, Lero has become one of the world's best-known software research centres. It is funded under the SFI Research Centres Programme, which has established a network of SFI Research Centres focusing on key research areas in Ireland.