Martin set to take up the mantle

The appointment of Martin Shanahan to lead the IDA comes at a time of global economic change, writes Kyran Fitzgerald.

Martin Shanahan may, as yet, hardly be a household name but we will be hearing a lot more from this 41-year-old former hotelier in the years to come, following his appointment as chief executive-designate of the IDA.

The IDA is one the parts of the Irish State which has functioned pretty effectively over the years. Its travelling executives appear to understand the United States, which is particularly important as US companies account for the lion’s share of overseas investments here.