Further to Chief Executive Barry Dempsey’s indication in late 2024 that he will leave the Institute this summer, a recruitment process to find his successor has now successfully concluded. The Institute is pleased to announce the appointment of Rosemary Keogh as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Chartered Accountants Ireland. Rosemary will join Chartered Accountants Ireland on 9 June 2025 from the Houses of the Oireachtas where she held the role of Assistant Secretary General – Corporate and Members' Services. Prior to that, she was CEO of the Irish Wheelchair Association. Rosemary has significant experience working in business in a range of industries at Irish and European level. She also served for five years as a Board Member and Chair of Finance, Audit, Risk & Governance Subcommittee of the Charities Regulator, and a further five years as Chairperson of the National Disability Services Association.  Thanks to the leadership of Barry over the past eight years, our Institute has continued to grow and to succeed and we want to acknowledge our gratitude to Barry for all he has done for Chartered Accountants Ireland, its members and students. We wish Barry all the best in the next chapter of his career. Rosemary joins the Institute as it prepares to implement a new organisational strategy for the coming years, progresses a new brand proposition, and continues to identify the myriad opportunities for Chartered Accountants Ireland to make its mark as the largest professional organisation on the island of Ireland. 

The recent launch of our New York chapter, held on Monday 10 March at the Consulate General of Ireland in New York, was met with much enthusiasm from members. This event marks an exciting milestone, and the Institute is confident that it will open up new opportunities for the growing network of Irish Chartered Accountants in the New York area. Conall McGonagle FCA will lead this newly established chapter, working closely with Gillian Duffy, District and Global Member Manager. Following this, President Barry Doyle, Deputy President Pamela McCreedy, and District and Global Member Manager Gillian Duffy continued their US outreach engaging with members across the region. There are over 800 Chartered members living and working in the US, many of whom are based in New York and Washington, DC. The team had the opportunity to engage with members and stakeholders at events including the IBEC St. Patricks Day Dinner; the NI Bureau Breakfast; the St. Patrick’s Luncheon at the British Embassy; the American Chamber of Commerce Ireland's Business Breakfast, and the Ireland Funds Gala, attended by senior leaders from both Ireland and Northern Ireland. This outreach is vital to supporting our members overseas and in strengthening our enduring business ties with the USA, ensuring the continued stability and growth of our international relationships. Members who would like to know more about the New York Chapter – or any other overseas member chapter – can contact Gillian Duffy directly.

On Monday evening 10 March, Institute President and Deputy President Barry Doyle and Pamela McCreedy started a series of US engagements on behalf of Chartered Accountants Ireland.  Approximately 150 Chartered members based in New York and the surrounding region assembled in the Consulate General of Ireland, New York, to attend the Institute’s panel discussion and member networking event on the current economic climate for FDI from the US into Ireland. The Institute’s newest overseas members chapter, for members in New York, was also launched by the President, accompanied by Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill. The weeks leading up to the event were characterised by geopolitical uncertainty, and given this context, the Institute was privileged to have such a well-placed panel of speakers at the event. Feargal O’Rourke FCA – Chair of IDA Ireland; Liz Munnelly FCA – CFO of Kerry North America; and John Feeney, Head of Corporate and Commercial Banking joined MC Caitríona Perry, chief presenter for BBC News in Washington, for an engaging and informative conversation at a time of increased focus on the long-established bilateral trade relationship between Ireland and the Unted States.   The event was opened by Gareth Hargadon, Deputy Consul General of Ireland in New York, and we want to thank Gareth and the team for their warm welcome again this year. Minister Carroll MacNeill spoke of the Institute’s status as an all-island body allowing Chartered Accountants Ireland members to access key business and economic positions as “trusted, ethical leaders” who occupy an important position in the island’s US-EU and US-UK relationships – allowing potential to influence and shape policy which cannot be underestimated. She noted the breadth of Irish businesses paving the way in the US across a variety of sectors, from Therapie Beauty Clinic to Kerry Group. President Barry Doyle spoke to members about the importance of Irish Chartered Accountants’ role in American organisations, steering businesses and strengthening relationships across the Atlantic. Barry’s key message was the vast potential offered by the global nature of the accounting qualification. New York resident and Chartered Accountants Ireland Council member Conall McGonagle – CFO and CAO of The Ireland Funds referenced the fact that New York is home to a complete cross section of members, and he and Barry Doyle launched the New York member chapter, providing members in the region key touchstones with the Institute and each other. The chapter – like the other 14 overseas member chapters around the world – will offer a central point of contact for members arriving in the city as well as those who already call it home. The panelists set the scene of the reality on the ground for businesses operating between the Irish and American markets, at a time of increased turbulence and uncertainty. The message was however positive, with Feargal O’Rourke noting Ireland’s all-time-high employment rate, something that is very appealing to US FDI investors. Echoing his sentiments at last November’s launch of a Chartered Accountants Ireland Guide to FDI in Ireland paper, he noted that Ireland maintains its position as a good place to invest for a wide variety of economic and social reasons. Continuing in this positive vein, Elizabeth Munnelly encouraged all businesses – regardless of their size – to explore the Irish market, citing Kerry as an example of a company that started out small and now employs 6,000 staff. John Feeney focused on domestic investment, reassuring potential investors to Ireland that there is funding available for infrastructure projects, emphasizing that Ireland must continue to create the right environment to attract investment. Members in the room were highly engaged and there were plenty of questions from the floor on everything from FDI to defense spending to tariffs.  During the week, the President and Deputy President also met with Mark Koziel – President and CEO of AICPA (Association of International Certified Professional Accountants) to congratulate him on his new role. The President also met with AICPA’s Susan Coffey as well as Lee White, CEO of IFAC, to ensure we strengthen the Mutual Recognition Agreement. During the meeting, they discussed IFAC’s key priorities, and ways in which IFAC plans to collaborate with other accountancy bodies to support the growth of the profession. Barry and Pamela, along with Global Member Manager Gillian Duffy, continue their outreach in Washington DC forging and strengthening relationships with stakeholders and members there. With over 750 members in the USA, the United States continues to be a draw to Irish Chartered Accountants at all stages of their career. The role members play in supporting both US and Irish businesses is critical to their success with senior business leaders such as Donald Gaynor, Elizabeth Munnelly and Alan Ennis making an impact on the US and Irish economies. Initiatives like the Morrison Visa – now in its 30th year – are just one avenue to help Irish people to access America and continue this tradition of success. Likewise, the ACA qualification is dubbed a “global passport” for good reason. Ireland remains uniquely placed to support growth, and with Irish Chartered Accountants held in such high esteem within business communities, they can provide trusted leadership in changing times. Members who wish to become involved with the New York member chapter – or any other member chapter – should contact Gillian Duffy. Photos from the event can be viewed here.