ECHA announces new Executive Director

ECHA has just announced the selection of Dr. Sharon McGuinness as new Executive Director.

Prior to her recent appointment, Dr. McGuinness had worked at Ireland’s Health and Safety Authority since 2006, first as Acting Chief Executive and – as of 2018 – as Chief Executive Officer. Before joining HSA, she worked in industry (Hewlett-Packard, dealing with compliance issues as well as lobbying efforts on chemical and environmental policies), international institutions (the European Commission’s European Chemicals Bureau) and academia (Royal College of Surgeons, Dublin).

Dr McGuinness, who obtained her PhD in Pharmacology at the University College Dublin, was also President of Ireland’s Society of Toxicology between 2010 and 2012.

Her appointment is expected to be finalized in early July, after appearing in front of the European Parliament for a statement and questions. Her selection follows that of Bjorn Hansen who retired in March 2022.