By Business & Finance The Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton TD, today announced the appointment of Frank Ryan as chairperson designate of the Board of IDA Ireland.
In accordance with the Government decision of 12 April 2011, Mr Ryan will appear before the Joint Committee for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation later today.
Ryan recently retired as CEO of Enterprise Ireland, having served as CEO of Enterprise Ireland for two five year terms from 2003-2012, during which time jobs and exports from exporting Irish companies hit record levels. Exports from Irish companies increased from €9.6bn in 2003 to a record high of €16.2bn in 2012, despite the crisis.
He previously worked for 25 years with IDA Ireland, serving in North America from 1979 to 1983 and was a member of the team who successfully attracted the Intel investment to Ireland in 1989, and was Executive Director of the Agency at the conclusion of his service for IDA.
At an earlier stage of his career Ryan worked for six years in the ICT industry.
Making the announcement, Minister Bruton said: “IDA Ireland is one of the best multinational investment agencies in the world. In the past two years it has delivered record performances in terms of jobs growth, with over 12,000 additional jobs created, record numbers of investments delivered and a growing list of world-leading companies establishing operations in Ireland.
“Frank Ryan, with over 35 years’ experience in supporting the economic development of Ireland is ideally placed to oversee the next phase of the growth of the multinational sector. I am confident that under his chairmanship, the multinational sector can continue the strong growth which has been so crucial to our economic recovery in recent years.
“Furthermore, with his experience as CEO of Enterprise Ireland, Frank is uniquely positioned to oversee the increased collaboration between the multinational sector and our innovative Irish companies that is so important to our economic recovery. Increased linkages between the multinational sector and our innovative Irish companies is a win-win for our economy – delivering major supply-chain opportunities for Irish companies, and innovative products and services for multinationals. I have said many times that we must not only seek to attract world-leading companies to Ireland, but also start and grow more world-leading companies in Ireland”.
“I would like to wish Frank every success in his term as chairperson and I look forward to working with him.
“I would finally like to thank Liam O’Mahony for his commitment, energy , expertise and service to the country as chairperson for the past five years, and to commend him on the success that occurred on his watch in recent years.”
