Fáilte Ireland’s chief executive Paul Kelly is to step down after over eight years in the role to take up a new job at the Royal Dublin Society (RDS).
Mr Kelly has been named as the new CEO of the RDS and will take up his new role in September.
Before his role at Fáilte Ireland, Mr Kelly held senior positions at Aviva as Marketing Director for Europe and the Middle East and he also ran his own Strategy and Marketing Consultancy.
The Wexford native began his career at Procter & Gamble in the UK, followed by senior roles at Diageo Ireland.
“Following an extensive recruitment process, the Trustee Council of the RDS is delighted to welcome Paul Kelly as our new CEO,” John Dardis, the President of RDS said.
“Paul’s distinguished career, marked by significant achievements in both the public and private sectors, makes him an ideal leader for the RDS as we embark on a period of exciting change and prepare to celebrate our 300th anniversary in 2031,” he added.
Paul Kelly said he was hugely excited to have the opportunity to take on the role of CEO of the RDS.
“The RDS has a highly prestigious past and huge future potential in its mission to inspire, enable and empower positive change in Ireland, and I’m looking forward to contributing to this mission,” he added.
Fáilte Ireland, the national tourism development authority, said a recruitment process to appoint a new CEO will begin in the coming weeks.
Ruth Andrews, Chairperson of the Fáilte Ireland Authority, said that Mr Kelly’s contribution to the success of Fáilte Ireland over the past eight years has been exceptional.
“I would like to thank him for his leadership and contribution to the sector, which leaves Fáilte Ireland and the tourism industry in a strong position and well primed for future success,” she added.
