Fáilte Ireland has appointed Caroline Bocquel chief executive; with her set to formally succeed Paul Kelly in November.
Ms Bocquel – most recently CEO of An Bord Iascaigh Mhara – is an experienced senior leader with over 20 years of expertise in driving strategic change, innovation, and sustainable growth across complex sectors.
As CEO of BIM she successfully led the Irish seafood industry through significant post-Brexit disruption, transforming it into Europe’s most modern, sustainable seafood processing sector.
She 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. She is the first woman to hold the position of CEO at Fáilte Ireland, and her appointment follows a comprehensive and competitive recruitment process.
It was announced, in March, that Paul Kelly would be leaving Fáilte Ireland to take the top job at the RDS (Royal Dublin Society). Paul Kelly Stepping Down as Fáilte Ireland CEO to Take Over as RDS Boss – ittn.ie
Also, this year, Mr Kelly took on the voluntary role of chair of the National Council for the Blind of Ireland (NCBI).
Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke 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. 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.”
Ruth Andrews, Chairperson of the Fáilte Ireland Authority, commented: “On behalf of the board of the Authority of Fáilte Ireland, I am pleased to announce Caroline Bocquel as the new CEO of Fáilte Ireland, following a highly competitive recruitment process. 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.”
Incoming CEO Caroline Bocquel said: “I am honoured to take on the role of Chief Executive at Fáilte Ireland, an organisation 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. 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.”
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 1st September 2025, until Ms. Bocquel formally takes up the role.
