Our Leadership

Mark Foley joined EirGrid as Group Chief Executive in June 2018, having held the role of Managing Director of Land Solutions in Coillte since January 2016. Previous to that, Mark was Managing Director of Coillte Enterprise where he led the development of new businesses in renewable energy, telecommunications, land development and land sales.

Before that, from November 2000 to August 2008, Mark was Director of Capital Programmes at Dublin Airport Authority. In this role he was responsible for master planning, permitting, planning and delivery of c. €1.5bn in airport infrastructure at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports. Prior to that Mark held a number of senior executives roles with multinationals in the Speciality Chemicals and Electronics sectors. Mark has a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering Degree from University College Dublin, a Masters in Industrial Engineering from University College Dublin and has attended executive development courses in Penn State University and IMD.

Brendan Tuohy joined as chair of the EirGrid Board in November 2019. He was previously Secretary General with the Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources. He holds a degree in civil engineering from University College Cork, and postgraduate qualifications in environmental engineering and management from Dublin University and Trinity College. He is a Chartered Engineer, Fellow of the Institution of Engineers of Ireland, and a Member of the Irish Academy of Engineering.

Brendan is also currently chairman of MAREI (the Science Foundation Centre for Climate, Energy and Marine). He is also Chairman of TILDA (Irish Longitudinal Study on Ageing), Chairman of the UN body Global eSchools and Communities Initiative, and Chairman of the Quality Council of the Kerry Education and Training Board.

Dr Theresa Donaldson is a Chartered Director and Fellow of the Institute of Directors and is Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners.  Theresa previously held Non-Executive positions with NI Equality Commission and the NI Health and Social Care Board.  She is a member of the LCJ Solicitors’ Disciplinary Panel and a board member of the Centre for Effective Services and NI Appeal Committee for BBC Children in Need.  She is a former Local Government Chief Executive and held several senior management positions in health and social care and legal services in NI, including Director of Policy and Civil Service Delivery in the Northern Ireland Legal Services Commission.

Rosa M Sanz joined the EirGrid plc Board in May 2022.  She was previously Chief Operating Officer of gas and electric infrastructure, with experience running a large customer-focused organisation at Naturgy, one of the largest Spanish utilities.  She has 28 years’ experience in the energy sector, in different business areas.

She holds a BSc and MSc in electrical engineering from Universidad Politécnica of Madrid, Spain; a MSc in cybersecurity from Universidad de Barcelona, Spain; and postgraduate qualifications in management from ESADE, IESE and IMD business schools.

Rosa M is currently a Non-Executive Director of IBERPAPEL and a member of its Audit Commission, EDP Redes and Zero Waste-Suma Capital, where she has gained experience in initial public funding offering process, ESG and green bond finance and certification.  She is also a member of the Future Trends Fundación Innovación Bankinter and Chairperson of Club Board Alumni ESADE Business School.

Tom Coughlan has extensive senior management and leadership experience having retired as Chief Executive of Clare County Council following a career in local government. He has wide experience in the public sector having served as chairman and director of various committees and boards at national and local levels. Tom is Chairperson of the Health and Safety Authority and Chairperson of the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal. He is also a non-executive Director of EirGrid plc and Failte Ireland.

Michael Hand was appointed to the EirGrid Board in 2015 for a period of five years and re-appointed in 2020 for a further five years.  Michael has over 30 years experience as a senior leader in the Consulting Engineering and Construction sectors in Ireland. He has acted as Director and Managing Director of private and public companies. He has also acted as CEO and Director of Grangegorman Development Agency. He has a track record in the design and delivery of major strategic infrastructure projects throughout Ireland. He has also worked with distinction as a volunteer and Director in the voluntary community sector.

Michael is highly qualified in Engineering and Business. He holds a Degree in Civil Engineering from NUIG and a Master’s in Business Administration from UCD. In 2014, he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate by TUD (DIT) in recognition of his contribution as an engineer, a public servant and as a servant to his community. He is a Fellow of four professional institutions and is a Chartered Engineer, a Chartered Director and a Chartered Water & Environment Manager.

Shane Brennan is an engineering graduate from the University of Ulster, holds a post graduate diploma in Environmental Engineering from Trinity College Dublin, a post graduate diploma in Corporate Governance from UCD Smurfit Business School and is a member of Engineers Ireland. He has over 25 years engineering experience and commenced employment with EirGrid in 2008 as a Project Manager in Grid Development. He is currently the Senior Project Manager for the North South Interconnector project in both
Ireland and Northern Ireland and has represented the company at many public and planning engagements throughout the island.

James Nyhan joined the EirGrid plc Board in October 2022.  He has wide ranging commercial and management experience in international energy, in electricity, natural gas, LNG, and in renewables, as well as in large infrastructure project development and engineering design. He has experience of guiding organisations through major transformation in response to energy policy changes.  He is currently a non-executive director of Milford Haven Port Authority, the UK’s largest energy port, and a member of its Audit and Risk Committee.  He holds a degree in civil engineering from University College Cork, an MBA from IMD and is a Chartered Engineer.