Invest Northern Ireland has announced the appointment of senior IDA Ireland member Kieran Donoghue as chief executive.
Mr Donoghue is a member of the executive leadership team of IDA Ireland. He is currently global head of strategy, public policy, and international financial services.
He has had a long career in economic development and foreign direct investment including senior policy, planning and business development roles across a wide range of sectors. He has extensive international experience and served overseas in Washington DC.
Mr Donoghue played a key role in the IDA in recent years, and as head of the financial services group was known to have played an important part in luring numerous firms relocating to Dublin from the UK after Brexit in order to retain access to the EU.
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Colm McKenna, interim chairman of Invest NI, said: “I am delighted that we have secured Kieran as our new chief executive. Kieran brings a wealth of experience from a long and highly successful career in economic development and foreign direct investment.
”This is an exciting time for the organisation and we look forward to welcoming Kieran to the team when he joins us in early 2024.
”I would also like to take the opportunity to thank Mel Chittock for his stewardship of the organisation over the last two years and to commend him on the guidance and support he has provided during that time. Mel will continue in the role of Interim chief executive until Kieran joins us.”
Mr Donoghue said: “I am delighted to take up this very important role. I look forward to working with the staff of Invest NI, the board, the business community and our many stakeholders, as we pivot Invest NI to deliver the recently launched action plan in response to the independent review of Invest NI.”
