Dermot Clohessy

Technical Project Director

Dermot Clohessy is a specialist in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) with extensive understanding of best practice in investment attraction and FDI development globally. A result focused practitioner, Dermot spent 28 years with the Irish FDI Agency – IDA Ireland, and was the organisation’s COO & Executive Director from 2006 – 2015.  

During his time in IDA Ireland, Dermot supervised projects across every functional area of the organisation, including the development and the successful implementation of the agency’s corporate strategy. He was also responsible for managing the teams tasked with securing investment for Ireland internationally, and led the organisation’s expansion of its global office network.

Since leaving IDA Ireland in 2015, Dermot has worked internationally as a Strategic Advisor on investment attraction and international business development, for both the private and public sectors. This has included leading IDI teams in the Middle East; providing expert practitioner support to senior management teams responsible for investment attraction. Additionally, he is currently a board member of Ireland’s Marine Institute – the state agency responsible for marine research, technology development, and innovation in Ireland.