The head of Ireland’s state-owned operator EirGrid is to join the UK’s National Grid.

Chief Executive Fintan Slye has informed the Board he will be leaving the organisation at the end of December.

He will take up a new role with National Grid UK, running its gas and electricity System Operator business.

John O’Connor, Chairman of the Board said: “He has a deep knowledge of the electricity industry and led a process of significant change within the company which included a programme on integrating renewables onto the Irish electricity grid known as DS3. This resulted in wind generated electricity reaching a peak of 78% of total demand at times in 2016.

“Fintan has also built our partnerships with other countries, including the successful operation of the East West Interconnector and the development of the proposed Celtic Interconnector project which would link the electricity transmission grids of France and Ireland with an undersea cable.”

The EirGrid Board said it will now start a process to find a successor.