SARAH McNicholas will step down as chief executive of the Irish Equine Centre [IEC] in November.

Appointed in 2013, she was the first person to fill the newly created role of chief executive at the Johnstown, Co Kildare, laboratory.

The IEC is an independent, not-for-profit organisation whose aim is to protect the wellbeing of Ireland’s horse population. It provides laboratory services for the diagnosis, management and prevention of diseases of horses.

In 2018, the IEC won three accolades at the Irish Laboratory Awards, including one of the two main awards for Commercial Laboratory of the Year.

McNicholas said: “It has been my privilege to lead the IEC for nine years, working with some of the best equine scientists in the world. The core of the IEC is its people and their passion for what they do and their dedication to servicing the equine industry is, and will always be, an inspiration.

“Having overseen the IEC’s recovery from the financial challenges facing the business when I joined, and successfully navigated the more recent challenges created by the global pandemic, I believe the time is right to hand over to a new chief executive to lead the IEC into its next phase of development.”

IEC chairman John Malone said: “I have made no secret of the fact that I would prefer Sarah to continue in her role.

“However, I fully respect her decision. She has made a huge contribution towards putting the IEC on a sound footing, both financially and operationally, and displayed total commitment to the post. She leaves the Centre in a much stronger position and I wish her every success in the future.”