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News 2025
UCC Awards Honorary Doctorate to Renowned Business Leader and Engineer Dick Lehane
Dick Lehane, a distinguished Irish business leader and engineer, has received an Honorary Degree from University College Cork.
A UCC engineering graduate, Dick Lehane also holds an MBA from NUIG and an MS in Management from TCD. He was appointed General Manager of EMC Ireland in 1988 by company founder Dick Egan. Under his leadership, EMC’s Cork-based operation evolved from assembling memory boards and storage systems to becoming a vital global hub. From a staff of just 40 in 1989, the site grew to employ over 2,000 people at its peak and was responsible for shipping 40% of EMC’s global revenue.
Dick’s strategic foresight was instrumental in transforming EMC Ireland into a full EMEA and international headquarters. He championed expansion plans supported by the IDA and EMC executives, ensuring the facility’s readiness to meet growing global demand throughout the 1990s.
His influence extended beyond manufacturing overseeing successful integration of major acquisitions like VMware and Documentum into EMC Ireland, broadening the site’s capabilities to include logistics, customer service, software engineering, and the creation of an Executive Briefing Centre. His leadership saw him rise to the role of Senior Vice President of Worldwide Manufacturing, based in the U.S., overseeing global operations.
Since retiring in 2006, he has remained an influential figure in Irish business and education, serving as Chair of IGNITE UCC, a board member at Wisetek, and a contributor to the Cork Airport Authority and North Monastery School.
Dick Lehane’s legacy is defined by visionary leadership, operational excellence, and a lifelong commitment to education and regional development. He was honoured with a Doctor in Engineering Science at the UCC Summer Conferrings on 20 June, 2025.