Irish Greyhound Board Announces Dollard as New CEO

Gerard Dollard has been named the new chief executive of the Irish Greyhound Board (IGB), taking over from interim CEO Dr Sean Brady who took over from Geraldine Larkin when she stepped down from the position last year.

The IGB has been searching for a new chief executive for the past few months. Mr Dollard comes to the IGB from his current position as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Economic Development of Clare County Council. In his position, he played a vital role in the promotion of economic development and tourism in Co Clare, including projects such as Cliffs of Moher Visitor Experience and the UNESCO Burren Geopark. He has also held the positions of Director of Service Environment and Emergency Services, Director of Service, Community and Enterprise, as well as Finance Officer.

“The Irish greyhound industry is undergoing rapid change and is moving into a more positive space after a number of difficult years,” stated Mr Phil Meaney, chairman of the Irish Greyhound Board. “Gerard Dollard has a proven, relevant skills set as the Irish Greyhound Board looks to the future of the industry.”

“Our ambition is to deliver a commercial, well regulated Greyhound Racing and Breeding Industry and a customer centred, exciting and value led entertainment experience. The Board and I look forward to working with Gerard to realise these objectives.”

In his new role, Mr Dollard will be responsible for sixteen racing tracks, both IGB and private, throughout Ireland. The industry supplies greyhounds for international racing, with more than 83% of greyhounds that race in the UK being bred in Ireland. The IGB employs almost 800 full time and part time staff and the industry, for which Dollard will be responsible, employing several thousand people, directly and indirectly.