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RTÉ News
3 days ago
- Business
- RTÉ News
Enterprise Ireland names Jenny Melia as new CEO
Enterprise Ireland has appointed Jenny Melia as its new chief executive officer (designate). Ms Melia, who has worked in the state agency for 29 years, is currently an Executive Director of Enterprise Ireland, which includes the role of Chief Client Officer. She will take up her new role as CEO in July and will replace interim CEO Kevin Sherry. Ms Melia has held a number of senior leadership roles across the organisation throughout her career and has worked extensively with client companies of varying scales from all sectors, including food, industrial and technology, and has also worked with the High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) Division, and the Research and Innovation team. Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Minister Peter Burke said that Ms Melia is a dedicated public servant, who has spent much of her career supporting and fostering the development of the Irish enterprise base through her impressive tenure with Enterprise Ireland, which spans almost three decades. "I am looking forward to working with Jenny and her leadership team, as this Government continues to focus on supporting Irish exporters and indigenous SMEs," Mr Burke said. "Irish-owned enterprises are critical to our economy, and we are committed to supporting this sector to continue to be agile, and to grow and scale both domestically and in international markets," he added. Michael Carey, Chairman of Enterprise Ireland, said the new CEO has an outstanding track record of providing clear vision and strategic leadership within the organisation, has established deep relationships working collaboratively with key stakeholders from across the ecosystem, and has worked extensively and directly with our client companies. "Enterprise Ireland has successfully helped Irish enterprise to scale and grow enormously in recent years, with our client base now employing and exporting at record levels, and Jenny has played a pivotal role in this success," Mr Carey said. "She will bring this vast experience and leadership to her new role, and we look forward to working with her to achieve our long-term ambition, that exporting Irish companies will become the primary driver of the Irish economy," he added. Mr Carey also thanked Kevin Sherry for his leadership as interim CEO, adding that Kevin, who will return to his position as Executive Director in July, demonstrated an exceptional level of commitment as he filled this role in recent months. Employment at companies supported by Enterprise Ireland rose to a record 234,454 earlier this year, and the organisation's new strategy sets out a number of ambitious targets for the Irish enterprise base, including plans to increase exports to €50 billion by 2029.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Enterprise Ireland names Jenny Melia as new CEO
Enterprise Ireland has announced the appointment of Jenny Melia as its new chief executive. Ms Melia, who has worked with the agency for 29 years, is currently an executive director of the agency, which is responsible for helping Irish companies tap export markets. In her current role, she is chief client officer for the agency. She will take up her new role in July. It is understood the recruitment process attracted huge interest across the public and private sector, both domestically and from abroad. READ MORE Kevin Sherry, who has been interim chief executive since March, will return to his previous position of executive director. Mr Sherry stepped into the breach after Leo Clancy left the organisation to take up the role of chief executive at Ei Electronics in Shannon, Co Clare. Ms Melia, who is a UCD graduate, has held a number of senior leadership roles across Enterprise Ireland, working with client companies of varying scales across all sectors, including food, industrial, and technology. She has also worked with the agency's high potential start-up division, as well as its research and development team. Minister for Enterprise Peter Burke said Ms Melia was 'a dedicated public servant who has spent much of her career supporting and fostering the development of the Irish enterprise base'. Enterprise Ireland chairman Michael Carey said Ms Melia had established 'deep relationships' with key stakeholders, and had played a 'pivotal role' in the group's client base now exporting and employing at record levels. Employment at companies supported by Enterprise Ireland rose to 234,454 earlier this year. The group's five-year plan, which Ms Melia will spearhead, aims to increase exports to €50 billion by 2029. The strategy, which was published earlier this year, is aimed at growing the number of jobs in companies supported by Enterprise Ireland to 275,000 over the same period. The plan, Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally, is focused on adding 1,700 new Irish-owned exporters, helping them to become more productive, sustainable and innovative. It also aims to support 1,000 new start-ups to help drive long-term sustainable growth and job creation. Among the targets are reducing carbon dioxide emissions at Enterprise Ireland-supported companies by 35 per cent by the end of 2030, and a 3 per cent annual average increase in productivity. That will be supported by a rise in investment in research and development, with Enterprise Ireland companies expected to spend €2.2 billion in 2029 compared to €1.55 billion in 2023.
Irish Post
07-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Enterprise Ireland reveals it invested more than €27m in start-ups in 2024
ENTERPRISE IRELAND, the government agency responsible for the development and growth of Irish companies in global markets, has revealed it invested €27.6m in Irish start-ups in 2024. The body supported 157 start-up companies last year, with investment provided through its High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) and Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) programmes. The figures were announced today at Enterprise Ireland's annual Start-Up Day Conference at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, with more than 600 delegates in attendance. Opening the conference, Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, Peter Burke TD, said: "Today is about celebrating the spirit of Irish entrepreneurship. "The strong pipeline of innovative start-ups emerging over the last three years demonstrates the extraordinary resilience and business ambition of Irish-founded start-up teams, particularly against the backdrop of a challenging global economic period." Last year marked the final year of Enterprise Ireland's three-year strategy, entitled 'Leading in a Changing World 2022-2024'. In that time, there were 266 HPSU and 213 Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) approvals, with more than €78m invested in the companies, half of which were based outside of Dublin. Start-ups supported by Enterprise Ireland in 2024 included 90 HPSUs with the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in sales within three years of starting up and 13 HPSUs from academic research. Meanwhile, 45 start-up companies that were approved investment in 2024 were women-led, while 63 were based outside the capital. Exporting companies tipped to drive economy Today's Start-Up Day — the largest annual event on Ireland's start-up calendar — comprised hundreds of entrepreneurs, investors and stakeholders, bringing together companies from sectors including ICT, life sciences, fintech, food and sustainability. This year's conference included a pitching element, featuring top university (pre) spin-out ventures emerging from Enterprise Ireland's Commercialisation Fund. These teams will pitch their visionary concepts, competing for an award and the prestigious opportunity to participate in UC Berkeley's Venture Connectivity Program. Looking forward, enhancing the pipeline of innovative and scalable start-ups is a key objective of Enterprise Ireland's new strategy, 'Delivering for Ireland, Leading Globally'. It has set a target to support 1,000 new start-ups over the five-year period from 2025 to 2029. "Start-up Day 2025 is a celebration of Ireland's strong and dynamic start-up community and the Start-Up class of 2024 have and will continue to play a significant role in contributing to the vibrancy of Ireland's start-up ecosystem," said Kevin Sherry, Interim CEO of Enterprise Ireland. "A key objective in our new strategy is to accelerate sustainable Irish business so that in time, exporting Irish companies will become the primary driver of the Irish economy. "As part of our plan, Enterprise Ireland is undertaking a dedicated consultation process by engaging with the start-up ecosystem on the supports available for early-stage companies in Ireland. "This aims to strengthen our pipeline of early-stage companies with the potential to scale internationally, furthering Ireland's position as a global leader in entrepreneurship and innovation." See More: Enterprise Ireland
Irish Examiner
07-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Enterprise Ireland start-up investments rise 15%
Enterprise Ireland funding to start-up companies increased by 15% during 2024, the agency revealed, as it kicks off its annual Start-Up Day conference in Dublin. Last year, Enterprise Ireland invested €27.6m in Irish start-ups across 157 companies. This is an increase on the €24m invested during 2023 across 156 companies. The investments were provided through Enterprise Ireland's High Potential Start-Up (HPSU) and Pre-Seed Start Fund (PSSF) programmes. There were 90 investments through the HPSU programme - which is aimed at businesses with the potential to create 10 jobs and €1m in sales within three years of starting up. Of these companies, 13 emerged as a result of academic research with 25 companies spun out of third-level institutions. The PSSF programme accounted for 69 investments. According to Enterprise Ireland, 63 of the companies supported last year were based outside of Dublin and 45 were led by women. The agency's figures for last year were unveiled as the company kicked off its annual Start-Up Day Conference on Wednesday in Dublin. Kevin Sherry, interim chief executive of Enterprise Ireland, said a key objective of the agency's new strategy is sustainability in Irish business so that in time 'exporting Irish companies will become the primary driver of the Irish economy'. 'As part of our plan, Enterprise Ireland is undertaking a dedicated consultation process by engaging with the start-up ecosystem on the supports available for early-stage companies in Ireland.'
