THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE of the Road Safety Authority is to leave her role to take up a new position as chief executive with the insurance industry group, Insurance Ireland, it has been announced. 

Moyagh Murdock has worked as the chief executive for the state agency for the past six years as the RSA campaigned to reduce the number of deaths on Irish roads. 

It has today been announced that she will be taking up the role as chief executive of Insurance Ireland, the body which represents the insurance sectors in Ireland, from March 2020. 

A statement from Liz O’Donnell, chairperson of the RSA said: “On behalf of the Board of the Road Safety Authority, I wish to confirm that Ms Moyagh Murdock, Chief Executive has decided to move on to take up a new role as Chief Executive with Insurance Ireland and will be leaving the RSA at the end of March 2020.

It continued: “Since becoming its Chief Executive in 2014, Moyagh steered the RSA through a period in which has seen road deaths reduce by 25%.

“In particular, her advocacy and work with Government and other key stakeholders in leading the implementation of the Government Road Safety Strategy as well her support for the introduction of various policy and legislative changes that have taken place during her tenure, have helped ensure Ireland’s road safety performance is now 2nd in the EU.”

In a separate statement from Murdock, she said: “This is a challenging time for consumers and insurance providers and I look forward to engaging with stakeholders and to working collaboratively with them to ensure we implement changes which will provide a stable and well underpinned sector which delivers effectively for all of its customers.” 

Before joining the RSA, Murdock worked as a chief operating officer for Bus Eireann where she had responsibility for road passenger operations, schools transport and information technology and business systems. 

She also previously worked with Bombardier, Team Aer Lingus and Caterpillar.

Insurance Ireland president, Ann Kelleher, said the appointment followed a competitive selection process. 

“She will bring a fresh perspective to her role in Insurance Ireland, with a particular focus on the Irish consumer,” she said. 

“Moyagh was selected following a very competitive selection process and demonstrated an enthusiasm and vision for the sector focused on its various stakeholders.”

The process will get underway shortly to fill the vacancy with the RSA, which will be left vacant once Murdock steps down. .