THE Royal Dublin Society (RDS) has announced the appointment of Paul Kelly as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective September 2025. Kelly joins RDS from Fáilte Ireland where he served as Chief Executive Officer since 2017.

"Following an extensive recruitment process, the Trustee Council of the RDS is delighted to welcome Paul Kelly as our new CEO” said John Dardis, President of RDS. “Paul’s distinguished career, marked by significant achievements in both the public and private sectors, makes him an ideal leader for the RDS as we embark on a period of exciting change and prepare to celebrate our 300th anniversary in 2031."

A press release from the RDS said Kelly’s tenure at Fáilte Ireland has been characterised by exceptional leadership, navigating the tourism industry through unprecedented challenges and driving significant growth and development.

Prior to his role at Fáilte Ireland, Kelly held senior positions at Aviva as Marketing Director for Europe and the Middle East, ran his own Strategy and Marketing Consultancy, and began his career at Procter & Gamble in the UK, followed by senior roles at Diageo Ireland. A native of Wexford, he holds a First-Class Honours degree from University College Dublin.

“We are confident that Paul’s extensive experience and proven track record will be invaluable as we continue to deliver on our strategic objectives” added John Dardis. “His leadership will be instrumental in building upon the strong foundation laid by our interim CEO, Liam Kavanagh, who has made significant contributions during his tenure, including the commencement of the Anglesea Stand regeneration project and the successful 2024 Dublin Horse Show. We are very grateful that Liam will continue as CEO until September and will also support Paul’s transition into the organisation.”

Speaking on his appointment, Paul Kelly said: “I am hugely excited to have the opportunity to take on the role of CEO of the RDS. The RDS has a highly prestigious past and huge future potential in its mission to inspire, enable and empower positive change in Ireland, and I’m looking forward to contributing to this mission.”

Paul takes over from interim CEO Liam Kavanagh, the former managing director of The Irish Times. Kavanagh stepped into the role after Geraldine Ruane departed the RDS unexpectedly in July 2023 after two and a half years at the helm.