Grangegorman boss Hand announces his resignation

WARM tributes have been paid to Michael Hand following his announcement last week that he’s officially resigning as Chief Executive Officer of the Grangegorman Development Agency (GDA).

Mr Hand has been GDA Chief Executive Officer since December 2010 and is credited with driving the multi-million euro Northside project forward during one of the worst recessions in the history of the State.

Capital funding for the Grangegorman Project was withdrawn in November 2011, less than a year after he became CEO, but Hand led his team and all stakeholders to come up with alternative plans to keep the project on track.

The innovative plans led to the project becoming one of the Government’s flagship projects just eight months later.

During his time with GDA, Hand has overseen major project milestones including construction of the cutting edge Phoenix mental health care centre to replace St Brendan’s and the adoption of a strategic development zone that will fast-track much of the project.

He was also at the helm during the refurbishment of seven historic protected structures, which are now occupied by 1,000 DIT students onsite.

Hand was awarded an Honorary Doctorate by Dublin Institute of Technology in 2014 for his “outstanding contribution as an engineer, a public servant and as a servant to his community.”

Following last week’s announcement, Chairperson of the GDA, Oliver Cussen, thanked the outgoing CEO on behalf of the board for his “outstanding leadership of and commitment to the project.”

“The work that has been done by him in Grangegorman, keeping the national situation in mind during his term as CEO, is phenomenal,” he said.

“Michael has led his team from the front and never took no for an answer. His determination to find a solution to any problem has been of huge benefit to this project.

“I am sorry to lose him and I wish Michael and his family every good wish and success in the future.”

Cllr Nial Ring (IND) who is a member of the Grangegorman Consultative Group and the Grangegorman Community Liaison committee also paid fulsome tribute to Hand.

“This project, in the heart of my constituency, looked at one stage that it would not go ahead due to funding issues,” he said.

“However, the intense interventions and negotiations by Michael made sure it went ahead.

“Michael’s contribution to this project cannot be overemphasised. In the darkest days of the recession when money wasn’t available for any capital projects, Michael kept the GDA project on the national agenda and somehow extracted funding from the Government.

“The project is now up and running and will, in time, be a wonderful educational and health facility in the North Inner City. Success has many fathers, but in this case the Hand of Hand made all the difference” he concluded.”

Hand is to take up a position as Director with J B Barry & Partners, Consulting Engineers. Amongst other responsibilities, he will oversee the delivery of various water services infrastructure projects throughout the country.

The GDA says it will now focus on the job of filling the CEO position as quickly as possible.

“We have already begun the process of finding a new CEO,” said Oliver Cussen,

“It is my aim to try to find the right person in as short a time as possible to lead this major project as it enters the next exciting phase of its development.”