A former top executive in the steel industry has been appointed to Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland as its new Chairman.

NI Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster has announced the appointment of George Lucas as Chairman to the Board for three years, effective from 1 April 2011.

Commenting on the appointment, the Minister said: "I would like to congratulate Mr Lucas on his appointment as Chairman. I am confident that his business background, as well as his knowledge and skills, will assist him in leading HSENI and contributing to the Board meeting its objectives.

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"I want to thank the outgoing Chairman, Professor McKie, for his hard work and commitment during his term in office and also acknowledge the contribution of the other Board members," she said, noting that Mr Lucas will 'shadow' the outgoing Chairman prior to formally taking up his appointment on 1 April 2011.

George Lucas was Managing Director of Gamble Simms Steel Ltd and then Corus Steel Distribution Ireland from 1986-2006.

Upon his retirement he worked for a three-year period as a consultant with Corus, acquired by Tata Steel and was responsible for strategy development and deployment in Great Britain and Ireland.

Mr Lucas is an Irish international tennis player at veteran level, and currently president of Ulster tennis.

(BMcC/GK)