BIM chief executive Caroline Bocquel is leaving to take up a new post as chief executive of Fáilte Ireland.
She is the first woman to be appointed to head the State tourism agency, and will start work there in November.
She succeeds Paul Kelly, who left Fáilte Ireland in March to take up the position of chief executive of the Royal Dublin Society.
Ms Bocquel has led BIM since January 2023, having previously worked as director of corporate services.
Bocquel, a keen dinghy and cruiser sailor, moved to BIM from the Marine Institute and worked abroad with Goal.
In an interview with Afloat Wavelengths last year, she said she believed it is time for a new vision for our seafood sector.
Ms Bocquel said she was honoured to be appointed to the position, describing Fáilte Ireland as “central to one of Ireland’s most vital industries”.
“Tourism supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in communities nationwide, and its sustainable growth is essential to our economic and cultural future,” she said.
She outlined her aim of working to “ensure Ireland continues to offer world-class experiences while building a resilient, innovative and inclusive tourism sector”.
Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said she has “the strategic skills, development mindset and governance experience needed to support the sustainable growth of our tourism economy into the future”.
Fáilte Ireland chairwoman Ruth Andrews said the appointment came as a result of a “highly competitive recruitment process”.
