PRODUCT PROFILE

Latest Dublin Prices

Karen O'Leary is new NCA boss

Tuesday, March 19 17:04:41

The National Consumer Agency (NCA) has appointed Karen O'Leary as Chief Executive following an open competition for the position earlier this year.

Ms. O'Leary has been Director of the NCA's Public Awareness and Financial Education Division since joining the NCA in 2010. In addition to her role as Director, Ms. O'Leary also served as Programme Manager on the NCA/Competition Authority amalgamation project and set up project structures to move the amalgamation forward. It is understood that Ms O'Leary will also be appointed as a Member Designate of the proposed Consumer Protection and Competition Authority by the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton.

Stephen Costello, Chairman of the NCA, said, "I am delighted that Karen O'Leary is taking up the position of Chief Executive of the NCA. Her appointment was on foot of an open competition run by the Public Appointments Service and was a unanimous decision by the NCA Board. I am confident that Karen will do an outstanding job. Karen has demonstrated that she has the required energy, leadership qualities and commitment to excellence to meet the challenges that lie ahead and champion the consumer cause as a new organisation is established, following the NCA's amalgamation with the Competition Authority. Since joining the NCA in 2010, Karen has led the Public Awareness and Financial Education Division and she has an impressive track record in working hard to make a real difference for consumers. In that role, she established the NCA's Money Skills for Life personal finance education programme, oversaw the operation of the NCA's consumer rights and personal finance helpline that receives an average of 60,000 contacts from consumers every year and led the public awareness activities of the Agency."

Karen O'Leary, Chief Executive of the NCA, remarked, "I am honoured to have been selected to lead the National Consumer Agency. It is a great privilege to head up an organisation which works every day to serve consumers' interests across a wide range of areas. During my time as Chief Executive, I plan to build on the achievements of the NCA and most importantly, to continue to identify breaches of consumer law and take enforcement action. I look forward to working with the Competition Authority to bring together our collective strengths, expertise and experience to create an organisation that will work to protect the needs of consumers in Ireland into the future."