Sean Wyse retires

Sean wyse has called it a day and a celebration was held in his honour on Friday, November 16th,
37 years to the month from which he first joined ESB. This long and successful career was to span all the main areas of the company including ESB Networks, ESB Power Generation, ESBI and ESB Customer Supply & Group Services. This journey also took him and his family to various places in Ireland - Castlebar to Dublin, Limerick and Waterford. He always had huge regard for the unsung heroes in the organisation and kept an eye for those who might get lost in the rush for whatever reason.

In 1973 Sean went to Galway District and during his time there he also worked as the Acting Group Engineer in Castlebar for 12 months which was a significant achievement for a relatively new Engineer. In the mid 70’s he spent a year back in Distribution Department but in 1976 he took to the country again. This was to be the start of a very significant and adventurous part of his career.

He went to Rathluirc in Limerick District as Acting Group Engineer. He was subsequently promoted to Group Engineer Limerick District, held the positions of Assistant Transmission Operations Engineer, Customer Service Manager and Marketing Manager before finally moving back to Dublin in 1991 as Customer Services Manager, Dublin North.

It was in the 70’s also that Sean was to come across a summer student from UCC working in the C&M office in Limerick. Michelle Higgins, whose late dad worked in the marketing function in Limerick District, made a big impression on Sean and they wed in 1982. They have two children – Adrianne and Jonathon. Sean is known as a very committed and proud family man.

In 1991 he successfully completed his MBA in UL and left the West for Dublin to take up the position of Customer Services Manager, North Branch. In his time there he brought about many changes and renewed the focus on the Customer.

In 1993 Sean was promoted to position of Regional Manager, South East Region - a key position at the time where he embedded change and built up the management team further enhancing Customer Service in that Region. In 1994 a major restructuring took place in the company and Sean was appointed by the late Ted Dalton to ESB Power Generation. Sean quickly came to terms with his new appointment and looked forward to the challenge that awaited him. On his arrival he, with John Campion and others, led the negotiations in Power Generation throughout the CCR process.

This was the first real change that had been embarked on in ESB Power Generation. In 1997 Sean was appointed a Director of ESB and took up the position of Managing Director, ESB Customer Services where a number of major achievements under his stewardship took place. In 2000 he was appointed Executive Director, Commercial Enterprises where his major achievements were the commissioning of Coolkeeragh, Amorbieta and the successful sale of the UK Contracting business.

In 2004 as Executive Director, ESB Customer Supply & Group Services, Sean oversaw the successful closure of the shops in Retail and the subsequent sale to BOSI. This was a very difficult journey but it was managed with minimum disruption to the customer and he also ensured that staff was managed in a caring manner.

Sean’s contribution to Safety in ESB has to be acknowledged. He took a leadership role in relation to safety and was the leader of a zero injury culture in ESB and the safety performance, not just in ESB Customer Services, but across the company.

Sean as everyone knows has a close interest in horses and is much in demand for advice on race days for his information. He is also and excellent golfer. In years past he would have been known at every Fleadh within a hundred mile radius of his base. He is also a lifelong supporter, with his son, of Arsenal.

A large gathering of Sean’s friends and colleagues from around the country were in Head Office for his farewell function. In his response to his retirement speech made by the Chief Executive, Sean spoke warmly of his time in ESB, the places he had worked in and of all his good times and good friends in the company.

The large crowd adjourned to a local hostelry where the craic, music and chat continued long into the night. All wished Sean, Michelle, Adrianne and Jonathan all the very best in the future.