Enterprise Ireland appoints new Executive Director

Pictured: Mark Christal, Executive Director, Enterprise Ireland



Mark Christal has been appointed as an Executive Director in Enterprise Ireland, and is responsible for the organisation’s sectoral and client solutions work, overseeing the delivery of a broad range of services and supports for its diverse enterprise base. 

Enterprise Ireland’s ambition is that Irish exporters will become the primary driver of the Irish economy, and Mark’s priority in his new role is to support the organisation’s client base to achieve their innovation, sustainability and productivity goals, while harnessing new solutions, including digitalisation and AI.

Appointed as Enterprise Ireland’s new Executive Director in January 2026, Mark is a University College Dublin graduate with an MBS from the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, and he has held a number of leadership roles across the organisation since joining in 2007.  

He has a strong track record in leading divisions focused on supporting Irish enterprises to grow and scale, including Food & Sustainability, Regions and Entrepreneurship. Mark has also held a number of leadership roles in the organisation, working across client development and human resources. Prior to his appointment as Executive Director, he held the role of Divisional Manager for Food and Sustainability.

Jenny Melia, CEO, Enterprise Ireland, said: “I am delighted to confirm the appointment of Mark Christal to Enterprise Ireland’s Executive Team. Mark has an outstanding track record in leadership roles throughout his career.  He has provided strategic leadership with an innovative approach throughout his 19 years in the organisation to date, building deep and trusted relationships with our ambitious client companies, while supporting our colleagues to deliver for our growing Irish enterprise base.

“Mark is committed to supporting our client companies to start, compete, scale and connect, and will play an important role in helping to realise Enterprise Ireland’s ambition that Irish owned exporters become the primary driver of the Irish economy.”