The Digital Hub in the Dublin Liberties. Image: Luke Maxwell
Former Senator Fiach Mac Conghail has been named as the new permanent CEO of The Digital Hub.
Fiach Mac Conghail, who is currently director and CEO of the Abbey Theatre, has been appointed to the permanent role of CEO of The Digital Hub in Dublin.
Mac Conghail will take over the position from interim CEO Gerry Macken in October, the latter returning to Dublin City Council to take up a new senior position.
The Digital Hub, situated in Dublin’s Liberties district, hosts up to 90 digital companies that employ in excess of 650 people.
From one stage to another
Mac Conghail, who was a Senator from 2011 to 2016, is no stranger to digital. He spearheaded the digitisation of some 1.8m items belonging to the Abbey Theatre archive in partnership with NUI Galway in 2012.
He inadvertently helped give rise to the #WakingTheFemists movement and subsequent debate at the theatre. This was sparked by the decision to host an entirely male-dominated run of plays at the Abbey Theatre to mark the 100 years since the Easter Rising.
Macken, who has held the position since 2014, played a key role in redeveloping the district around The Digital Hub.
This included a €40m deal in which the Digital Hub Development Agency secured a new enterprise office space and a student accommodation development for The Liberties area in Dublin City.
The project is expected to create up to 300 jobs in construction and will result in the creation of an additional 10,650 sq ft of enterprise office space, as well as a housing development for 470 students on Bonham Street, Dublin 8.
Macken said: “My time at The Digital Hub has been most rewarding and I was very privileged to have worked with such inspiring digital entrepreneurs and businesses, during such an exciting phase in our development and growth.
“Rest assured that Fiach will bring a wealth of experience, expertise and energy to the role which will be of major benefit to The Digital Hub and to you, our client enterprises, as we build on what has been achieved to date.”
