Shay O’Malley appointed as ECHA’s Acting Executive Director

ECHA/NR/22/03

Mr Shay O’Malley, Director of Resources, will be ECHA’s Acting Executive Director as of 1 April 2022, until the new Head of the Agency starts in the role. Bjorn Hansen will retire on 31 March 2022.

Helsinki, 19 January 2022 – The selection and recruitment procedure for the new Executive Director is progressing as planned, however, it will not be completed by the time of Mr Hansen’s retirement. ECHA’s Management Board has, therefore, appointed Shay O’Malley, ECHA’s current Director of Resources, to ensure continuity of operations as Acting Executive Director from 1 April 2022.

Shay O’Malley became ECHA’s Director of Resources in January 2015, where he has responsibility for ECHA’s finance, human resources and corporate services functions. He joined ECHA in March 2011 as Head of Unit - Human Resources. Prior to joining ECHA, Shay worked in a number of senior management positions with the Irish communications regulator (ComReg) and he also served as an officer in the Irish Defence Forces.