GERALDINE Ruane, chief executive officer of the Royal Dublin Society (RDS), is understood to have departed the organisation unexpectedly this week. The first female CEO of the RDS in its almost 300-year history took up the role in October 2020.

Ruane, who just last week launched the 2023 Dublin Horse Show, due to take place in less than three weeks (August 9th to 13th), to industry stakeholders, declined to comment on her departure to The Irish Field on Friday. The RDS did not respond to a request for comment.

Last month, Ruane announced a €50 million plan to regenerate part of the RDS grounds as a new multi-purpose venue. Planning permission for the new €50 million Anglesea Stand was lodged on June 12th 2023, with the last day for observations on July 17th. There is no decision date shown on the Dublin City Council website.

The RDS was originally granted planning permission for a new Anglesea Stand in August 2018 but that planning permission has since lapsed.

The development will deliver an estimated additional €254 million in tourism revenues over a 25-year period, according to figures from an Indecon International Economic Consultants cost benefit analysis of the project.

The report states that the Indecon analysis estimates that overall the socio-economic cost benefit analysis indicated that the development will deliver a net benefit in net present value of €68.1m.

Benefit

A key ongoing economic benefit from the new stand would be the enhanced tourism revenues for Ireland. The report states that the Indecon analysis estimated these to be €546 millon over 25 years which is an increase of €254 million on a ‘do nothing scenario’. The Indecon report also estimated that the redevelopment would deliver an additional 60,000 tourists to Ireland per annum.

Ms Ruane was the first female CEO of Ordnance Survey Ireland before going on to be chief operations officer at Trinity College where she spearheaded the €1 billion development of Trinity’s technology and enterprise campus. She has also held senior roles in the pharmaceutical world, including CFO at Novartis.

The reason for the CEO’s departure is not publicly known at this point but is believed to have come after a recent board meeting.