MAHA Ireland pays tribute to retiring John McClelland 

04/11/2025

John first joined Rotary, a building and general maintenance company, in 1998 as a contract manager. He then became a key figure in the Rotary-MAHA joint venture (ROMAHA) in 2001; MAHA supplied the test equipment to Driver and Vehicle Agency (DVA) test centres, while Rotary was responsible for the refurbishment and maintenance of the buildings the equipment was housed in.

In 2012, when Rotary exited the partnership, John transitioned seamlessly to MAHA Ireland. Based in Lisburn, he continued to oversee the DVA vehicle testing contract across Northern Ireland’s 15 test centres.

Throughout his tenure, John has been instrumental in ensuring the efficient running of MAHA’s operations in Northern Ireland and played a pivotal role in the maintenance of testing equipment, managing engineering teams and strengthening MAHA Ireland’s long-standing and successful partnership with DVA. 

John’s leadership, reputation and experience have been critical in preserving relations between MAHA and DVA – earning him the respect and admiration of colleagues and partners alike.

Reflecting on his career, John said: “When I first encountered MAHA in 1998, I never thought I’d work for and remain with the company nearly 30 years later. The work has always been challenging and interesting, but it’s the people that have made it special.

“I’ve been lucky to work with a great team, been part of many projects and met some good people along the way. It’s been a privilege to see how we’ve grown and matured over the years.

MAHA Ireland Managing Director, Eoin Mallon, said: “John has been at the heart of our journey in Northern Ireland, and his work ethic, personality and professionalism will be sorely missed.”

On John’s successor, Ivan Swarbrick, Eoin added: “Ivan was the natural successor; his relationships with both our customers and DVA is crucial as John steps aside. It is important that it is ‘business as usual’, and having Ivan in place will certainly show that is the case.”

Before signing off, John concluded: “I will miss everyone associated with MAHA Ireland, but it is time for someone else to take the reins and for me to enjoy extended time with my family. I hope that I’ve made a positive impact, and I have total confidence in Ivan and the rest of the staff here that they’ll stay on the right path.”