Fáilte Ireland appoints Caroline Bocquel as first woman to take role of chief executive officer.
Ireland’s National Tourism Development Authority Fáilte Ireland, has confirmed the appointment of Caroline Bocquel as its new CEO. She will formally assume the role in November 2025.
Bocquel brings over two decades of leadership experience across strategic change, innovation, and sustainable growth in complex sectors.
“Tourism supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in communities nationwide, and its sustainable growth is essential to our economic and cultural future”
Most recently, she served as chief executive of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), where she led the Irish seafood industry through post-Brexit disruption and helped transform it into one of Europe’s most modern and sustainable seafood processing sectors.
Her career includes senior roles in both public and NGO sectors, including chief financial officer at GOAL and director of Corporate Services at the Marine Institute. She is the first woman to be appointed CEO of Fáilte Ireland, following a competitive recruitment process.
Paul Keeley, director of Regional Development, will serve as interim CEO from 1 September until Bocquel formally begins her tenure.
Tourism is critical to the Irish economy
Fáilte Ireland supports the long-term sustainable growth of tourism’s economic, social, cultural, and environmental contribution to Ireland.
Bocquel commented, “I am honoured to take on the role of Chief Executive at Fáilte Ireland. Tourism supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in communities nationwide, and its sustainable growth is essential to our economic and cultural future.”
The sector generates €10bn in annual revenue and supports over 225,000 jobs.
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke, TD, said: “I was happy to approve the appointment of Caroline Bocquel as Chief Executive of Fáilte Ireland. Tourism is of critical importance to the Irish economy, and Caroline has the strategic skills, development mindset and governance experience needed to support the sustainable growth of our tourism economy into the future.”
As the National Tourism Development Authority, Fáilte Ireland’s role is to support the long-term sustainable growth in the economic, social, cultural and environmental contribution of tourism to Ireland.
Fáilte Ireland also provides consumer and buyer insights, mentoring, business supports and training programmes and buyer platforms to help tourism businesses innovate and grow.
In addition, Fáilte Ireland supports business tourism, managing the bidding for and securing of larger conferences, meetings and events to be hosted in Ireland.
It is also responsible for domestic holiday marketing across four regional experience brands: Wild Atlantic Way, Ireland’s Ancient East, Ireland’s Hidden Heartlands and Dublin.
Ruth Andrews, chair of the Fáilte Ireland Authority, said: “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.”
Image at top: Caroline Bocquel, the new CEO of Fáilte Ireland
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