Enet CEO quits before broadband bid award

ENET chief Conal Henry has stepped down from the group – months before the Government’s broadband contract is awarded.

Enet is the last remaining bidder for the Government’s rural broadband plan after Eir’s surprise withdrawal from the process earlier this year.

Bartley McElroy, currently Enet’s director of sales and marketing, has taken up the CEO role. Announcing his decision to step down on Twitter on Monday night, Mr Henry said that after 12 years the time had come for him to hand over the reins and added: “I’m so exceptionally proud to have been associated with this great company. Thanks.”

Enet chairman David McCourt thanked Mr Henry for his contribution, adding: “Conal’s departure does not impact on enet’s participation in the National Broadband Plan (NBP) procurement process.

“Peter Hendrick, who is continuing as managing director for all growth initiatives for Enet, will also continue to lead the enet team and as bid director of the Enet-SSE consortium.”

In January, Eir blamed ComReg for withdrawing from the NBP, citing new “uncertainty” over pricing in Ireland. The NBP, which promises to provide every rural dwelling with high-speed internet, has been hit by delays since it was touted in 2012.

Earlier this month, Mr McCourt described the cost of using Eir infrastructure in rural Ireland as an “outrage” that was the key stumbling block for the NBP. Last year, 78pc of Enet was acquired by the Irish Infrastructure Fund (IIF), while the remaining 22pc is held by Granahan McCourt Capital — led by Mr McCourt, as well as the private family fund of Berkshire Hathaway board member Walter Scott.