Outgoing Data Protection Commissioner Helen Dixon appointed to ComReg

The appointment follows an announcement from Ms Dixon that she would be stepping down as Data Protection Commissioner next year

Helen Dixon, Commissioner of the Office of Data Protection, will take up her new role with ComReg in the new year. Pic: IrishPhotoDesk.ie

Data Protection Commissioner, Helen Dixon - who announced she would be stepping down from her role in the new year - has been appointed to the Commission for Communications Regulation (ComReg) by the Government. 

Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications, Eamon Ryan announced the appointment on Thursday afternoon following an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service. 

The minister added that Ms Dixon "will bring considerable national and international experience to this role, particularly in an evolving regulatory and legal framework where telecoms and postal sectors have seen rapidly accelerated digitalisation."

"ComReg is facing into a challenging period and this appointment brings the Commission to its full complement of three Commissioners. This will further strengthen the leadership required to stay abreast of major developments in the digital sector."

ComReg is Ireland's new communications regulator and was established just last year to success the Office of the Director of Telecommunications Regulation (ODTR).

The appointment follows an announcement from Ms Dixon on Wednesday, in which she revealed in a LinkedIn post that she would be stepping down from her role of Data Protection Commissioner on February 19th next year.

“I look back with great satisfaction at what the Data Protection Commission has achieved over the last nine and a half years," Ms Dixon wrote.

“I have had the opportunity to transform the DPC from a small regionally-based office of 27 staff into an independent regulatory body today with over 215 committed experts, headquartered in Dublin, and internationally recognised for the quality of its staff and work." 

She added that during her tenure, there had been numerous changes to EU law surrounding data protection, including GDPR legislation, as well as the recently enacted Digital Services Act.

Ms Dixon has also held senior roles in the Department of Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation working on economic migration policy, science, technology and innovation policy, and has held the role of Irish Registrar of Companies where she led regulatory enforcement of compliance with the filing provisions of the Companies Acts.

Ms Dixon will take up her post in early 2024.