The Irish Exporters Association (IEA), the representative body for exporters in Ireland, has appointed Liam Hyland as its president for 2026, placing customer focus, supply chain resilience and export capability at the centre of its agenda for the year ahead.

Hyland is director of export and international trade at FoodEx Ireland, a subsidiary of Musgrave Group, and has served as a national council member of the IEA since 2020. He succeeds Gabrielle White, executive director and head of supply chain and logistics at PTC Therapeutics.

The appointment comes at a time of heightened complexity for exporters, with logistics performance, market access and international competitiveness increasingly shaping commercial outcomes for Irish businesses operating across global supply chains.

“Liam brings deep international trade expertise, along with a proven dedication to customers that is central to his approach," said Simon McKeever, Chief Executive of the IEA.

“That same customer-focused mindset, combined with his strong focus on export capability development and strategic partnerships, will be instrumental in supporting our members and driving the continued growth of the IEA.”

McKeever added that the association’s priorities for the year ahead include supporting members as they navigate day-to-day challenges such as competitiveness, supply-chain resilience and access to international markets, alongside advocacy on wider global trade issues impacting Ireland.

“Liam’s experience and collaborative approach will be key to ensuring our members’ voices are heard and their export ambitions are realised,” he said.

Accepting the role, Hyland highlighted the increasing pressures facing exporters and the importance of coordinated industry representation.

Explore how Ireland’s exporters are aligning leadership and logistics priorities.

(Photo Credits to Irish Exporters Association)