The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) today announced the appointment of Greg Dempsey to the chief executive role.
Dempsey is currently deputy secretary general of the Department of Health and will take office following the conclusion of current chief executive Dr Pamela Byrne’s tenure on 1 March 2025.
A Dublin native, Dempsey graduated from Trinity College Dublin with a BSc in financial information systems and is a qualified chartered certified accountant.
He is a member of the board of the Institute of Public Administration and a member of the State Claims Agency Advisory Committee.
Dempsey has worked in the Department of Health for more than a decade, where he was previously assistant secretary and head of finance, before becoming deputy secretary.
He now heads the corporate affairs division, overseeing the highest standards of corporate governance in the department.
Before that, he was chief finance and operations officer with the Department of Finance, having joined there from the Central Bank.
Before joining the public sector, Dempsey had a distinguished career in the private sector, working in a number of financial services firms, including as CEO of Zurich Bank.
‘Exciting New Chapter’
Commenting on the announcement, the chair of the FSAI, Ann Horan, said that Dempsey brings a wide breath of expertise and leadership to his new role that will be invaluable in steering the FSAI to maintain its primary role in protecting consumers’ health and interests in relation to food safety.
Horan said, “The board is delighted to welcome Mr Dempsey as the new chief executive of the FSAI.
“Mr Dempsey’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for the FSAI, as we roll out our new Strategy 2025-29, which sets out an ambitious road map to continue to safeguard consumer health and enhance trust in Ireland’s robust food safety system.
“With his exceptional leadership skills, and a clear vision for the future, we are confident that he will safeguard and further drive the FSAI’s exemplary track record in delivering its legal mandate.
“On behalf of the FSAI, I wish to thank our outgoing chief executive, Dr Pamela Byrne, for her exemplary leadership during her tenure.
“Dr Byrne’s vision, passion, hard work, and commitment to food safety have been instrumental in the FSAI continuing to be a highly regarded regulatory agency, both nationally and internationally.
“We wish Dr Byrne all the best in her future endeavours and look forward to building on the strong foundations she has established.”
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