New team appointed to EU Special Programmes Body

The North-South body responsible for monitoring European funding and progress, the Special European Programmes Body (SEUPB), has just completed the appointment of its top management team.

The top post of Chief Executive goes to John McKinney, formerly the Chief Executive of Omagh District Council and the post of Deputy Chief Executive goes to Nuala Kerr, who was formerly with the Department of Finance and Personnel.

The SEUPB has a major role to play in the development of peace and reconciliation and in economic and social progress on the island as a whole, particularly in the border areas.

Two Directors have also been appointed to head up the two major programmes for which SEUPB is responsible - Shaun Henry, formerly of Rural Development Council is the new Peace II Programme Director and Jack O'Connor, who was with the Belfast Regeneration Office, is the new Director of Community Initiatives. Mr O’Connor will also run the SEUPB Monaghan Office.

Debra Savage from AV Browne Advertising is the new SEUPB Communications Manager and three new managers will support the Programme Directors.

The two Programme Managers for Peace are Michael Hegarty, who was previously with Proteus, and James Magowan from the Northern Ireland Voluntary Trust will also manage the SEUPB Omagh Office.

Nuala Cormican, who was with the Western Sperrins Area Based Strategy Action Group, is the new Interreg III Programme Manager.

(MB)