Irish chief replaces O'Hare at Microsoft

Published on Saturday 26 September 2009 16:17

MICROSOFT will this week unveil an executive from its Irish office as the successor to Raymond O'Hare, who last month announced his decision to resign as director in Scotland.

Derrick McCourt, the software giant's public sector group director for Ireland, will formally take up his new post on 1 January.

O'Hare has decided to leave the company after a career spanning 12 years, the last five in charge of Microsoft Scotland.

He has been touted as an early candidate to replace Jack Perry as chief executive of Scottish Enterprise after saying he will consider a permanent role outside the technology sector and possibly one in the public arena.

O'Hare said at the time he announced his resignation that he needed a change and was leaving Microsoft's business in Scotland in good shape and with a new headquarters in the former GPO building in Edinburgh.

He is chairman of the Institute of Directors in Scotland and sits on a number of influential boards and forums, including the government's National Economic Forum and Skills Utilisation Leadership Group. He will continue to chair the IoD Scotland.

Interviews are understood to be under way for Perry's post at Scottish Enterprise.