Fiach Mac Conghail, outgoing director and CEO of the Abbey Theatre, has been appointed as CEO of the Digital Hub Development Agency and will take over as boss next month, when interim CEO Gerry Macken will return to Dublin City Council.

The DHDA is the state agency charged with managing and developing the Digital Hub cluster, with the aim of creating an international centre of excellence for digital content and technology enterprises. The Digital Hub, located in D8, is home to almost 100 digital-related ventures, employing just over 700 people.

The Digital Hub is the largest cluster of digital media, technology and internet businesses in Ireland.

Mac Conghail (pictured) has been director and CEO of the Abbey Theatre since May 2005. He was criticised earlier this year for the lack of female playwrights in the Abbey's 1916 centenary programme, leading to the theatre adopting a controversial policy of positive discrimination in favour of female writers.

Mac Conghail said: “I'm delighted to be appointed CEO of the DHDA and to continue to build on the success of this imaginative project. Supporting creativity and encouraging the imagination of others has been a constant passion and value in my professional career to date, and this new role will enable me to continue with this passion. I'm looking forward to collaborating with the extraordinary and innovative digital media and technology companies in The Digital Hub.”

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DHDA chairman Paul Holden said: “Fiach will bring a wealth of experience, expertise and energy to the role, which will be of major benefit to the agency. He joins us at an exciting time of development and growth, and we look forward to working with him in the months and years ahead, which are full of both challenges and opportunities."