Fáilte Ireland, the National Tourism Development Authority, has appointed Caroline Bocquel as its new chief executive. Ms Bocquel will take up her new role in November.
She will replace Paul Kelly who stepped down earlier this year after over eight years in the CEO role to take up a new job at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS).
Ms Bocquel is the first woman to hold the position of CEO at Fáilte Ireland, and her appointment follows a comprehensive and competitive recruitment process.
She most recently served as chief executive of BIM where she led the Irish seafood industry through significant post-Brexit disruption.
She also has a proven track record of leadership in senior positions in the public and NGO sectors, including as Chief Financial Officer in the international humanitarian response agency, GOAL and Director of Corporate Service in the Marine Institute.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke said that tourism is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and Caroline Bocquel has the strategic skills, development mindset and governance experience needed to support the sustainable growth of our tourism economy into the future.
“I am confident that Caroline and her team will work closely with the industry and my officials as we develop and support the Irish tourism sector together,” he added.
Ruth Andrews, Chairperson of the Fáilte Ireland Authority, said that Caroline’s leadership experience, along with a proven track record in strategic development, driving growth and commitment to innovation make her ideally suited to lead the organisation into its next chapter.
“As we continue to support the sustainable growth of Irish tourism, Caroline will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of the sector,” she said.
Caroline Bocquel said that tourism supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in communities nationwide, and its sustainable growth is essential to the country’s economic and cultural future.
“I look forward to working with the Fáilte Ireland team, the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, industry partners, and communities to ensure Ireland continues to offer world-class experiences while building a resilient, innovative, and inclusive tourism sector,” she added.
Paul Keeley, Director of Regional Development, has been appointed by the Board of the Authority of Fáilte Ireland as interim CEO to oversee the organisation from September until Ms Bocquel formally takes up the role.
The Irish tourism industry drives €10 billion in revenue a year and supports over 225,000 jobs.
