Ireland appoints first AI Sectoral Champions to drive business adoption

Ireland has appointed its first AI Sectoral Champions to accelerate the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence within the business community. Announced by Minister of State Niamh Smyth TD under the National Digital and AI Strategy, the initiative aims to boost productivity and innovation by placing practical enterprise experience at the center of national policy.

The inaugural champions are Shane McGibney of Kerry Group and Siobhán Noble of Carne Group. Working alongside Enterprise Ireland, these leaders will share sector-specific insights, highlight emerging trends, and help businesses transition from experimentation to measurable AI applications. The voluntary roles are set for an initial one-year term.

Experts note that AI transformation differs from traditional digital transformation. While previous efforts focused on modernizing systems and digitizing processes, AI transformation involves augmentation—where systems analyze information and generate recommendations—rather than just automation. This shift requires businesses to reconsider the nature of work itself, balancing autonomous tasks with essential human judgment and critical thinking.