Mayo GAA has today confirmed the appointment of Collins McNicholas to manage and oversee the recruitment process for the new Chief Executive Officer of Mayo GAA.

The decision follows the adoption of the Mayo GAA Operational Review and reflects the significance of the CEO appointment as a defining step in the organisation’s future development.

While Mayo GAA continues to benefit from a wealth of experience, insight and commitment from its Coiste Bainisí members it has been agreed that the scale and importance of this role warrants the involvement of an independent, specialist recruitment firm.

The appointment of Collins McNicholas will ensure:

• A fully transparent and professionally governed recruitment process
• Access to additional expertise and national-level executive search capability
• A robust, objective assessment of candidates
• Confidence across clubs, volunteers, members and stakeholders that the best possible candidate is appointed
• Absolute clarity that the process is beyond reproach, with no dispersion or doubt cast upon the final appointment

The CEO role will be central to implementing the Mayo GAA operational review recommendations, providing strategic leadership across the organisation, strengthening governance, rebuilding commercial capacity, supporting volunteers and clubs, and enabling high performance across the county.

Speaking on behalf of the Strategic Leadership Committee (SLC), the Mayo GAA Chairperson said:

“This is one of the most important appointments Mayo GAA has made in many years. While we have fantastic expertise, experience and commitment within our own structures, we felt it was essential that this process be led independently. Appointing Collins McNicholas ensures transparency, objectivity and the highest professional standards. It gives confidence to our clubs, our volunteers and our wider community that the right person will be appointed on merit alone, and that the process itself is beyond question.

Our ambition is to secure a CEO who can lead Mayo GAA through the next phase of its development — professionally, transparently and always with our clubs and volunteers at the centre.”

Collins McNicholas will work closely with the SLC and interview panel to manage all stages of the recruitment process, including role briefing, candidate identification, assessment, and final recommendation. It is anticipated that the process will conclude in Q1 of this year.
Further updates on the recruitment timeline will be communicated in due course.