Recent Searches
Recent Searches
Irish CEOs are advancing with transformation, expanding AI, hiring for new skills, and using deals to stay competitive as pressures rise.
In brief
Irish CEOs are acting decisively to reshape their organisations amid rising global uncertainty.
Half of respondents in our latest EY Ireland CEO Survey are already undertaking major transformation programmes with focussed practical actions to deliver cost reduction, improve efficiency and unlock new growth.
Technology and AI are playing a central role, with most CEOs reporting that AI has exceeded their expectations, and nearly all believe it will materially transform how they operate within two years. M&A and partnerships are also high on the agenda, with Ireland remaining the top destination for new investment.
Irish CEOs have shifted from “wait and see” to “move now”. Their focus is on practical steps - across technology, talent, and partnerships -that deliver measurable results.
Carol Murphy
EY Ireland Partner, Head of Markets
Strategy & Geopolitics
Transformation Programmes
AI What’s Now & What’s next
New Skills Needed
Deals Driving New Growth
In conclusion
Chapter 1
Leaders are dealing with higher costs, tense supply chains, and unpredictable global events.
Costs are continuing to rise with 65% expecting higher operating expenses in 2026. This reflects pressures from supply chain complexity, energy volatility, regulatory demands, and wage inflation.
Geopolitical uncertainty is reshaping investment decisions in real time with visible impacts: 46% stopped or delayed a planned investment, 28% accelerated initiatives, and 5% exited a geographic market.
Geopolitical risk has become a constant. Tariff uncertainty persists, with other pressures building; political instability, energy shortages, cyber threats, data control, access to critical minerals, and rising costs tied to debt and currency swings. Leaders need alignment and plans that works across functions. Resilience and flexibility will be key to performance as conditions continue to shift..
Aidan Meagher
Co-Head of Geopolitical Strategy. EY Ireland Tax Partner and Life Sciences Tax and Law Lead
Chapter 2
Irish leaders are driving programmes that push performance forward and keep momentum high.
Half of Irish companies are already undertaking enterprise-wide transformation programmes, with the remainder planning to commence these types of programmes within the next year. These initiatives aim to deliver clear outcomes across cost, growth, and operations. Priority areas include cost reduction (50%), customer engagement (46%) and sustainability (44%).
Irish CEOs are focussed on outcomes - lower costs, faster growth, and productivity gains through digitalisation. Managing overlapping transformations with AI adoption, cyber resilience, operating model redesign, and EU directives – is a core leadership challenge.
Helena O’Dwyer
EY Ireland Partner; Head of Strategy EY-Parthenon
Chapter 3
AI is becoming embedded in the way Irish companies run, build and grow.
AI is now at the centre of business strategy. 85% of CEOs say their AI initiatives are meeting or exceeding expectations, while 98% expect AI to materially reshape their business model within the next two years. CEOs are already seeing tangible value in customer operations and contact centres, software engineering, knowledge management, risk and compliance automation, and forecasting and planning.
Regulation is now critical to the AI agenda. The EU AI Act will require boards to maintain use-case inventories, risk classifications, controls, and documentation as implementation phases progress. Cybersecurity and resilience are also non-negotiable, with CEOs addressing rising digital risks to protect data and maintain trust. Thirty percent of our survey cited cyber risk as the biggest challenge when prioritising AI initiatives.
AI is delivering real outcomes today, and CEOs are planning for deeper integration and transformation across the enterprise. The focus is on using AI to drive growth, improve efficiency, and create new ways of working. The pace of adoption is accelerating, and the opportunities are expanding.
Eoin O'Reilly
EY Ireland Partner, Head of AI & Data
Chapter 4
Capability gaps are widening, and organisations are prioritising people who blend judgement, experience and technical fluency.
60% percent of CEOs expect to maintain or increase recruitment in 2026 for roles that bring fresh capabilities into the business. Organisations are accelerating reskilling and redeployment due to the competition for talent. Priority skills include Data and AI, cyber resilience, cloud engineering, transformation and regulation. The ability to combine judgement and experience with advanced tools is emerging as a defining factor for performance in the years ahead.
Hiring plans are shifting as organisations needs evolve. Organisations need people who apply and leverage technology to deliver tangible outcomes for the business.
Laura Flynn
EY Ireland Partner Head of People Consulting
Chapter 5
Investment activity is rising, and CEOs are prioritising deals that deliver talent, technology and customer access.
98% percent of CEOs plan to pursue at least one transaction in the coming year – ranging from acquisitions to partnerships and strategic alliances. Organisations are increasingly using deals to acquire new capabilities in areas such as AI and cyber, expanding customer reach, and strengthening supply chain resilience.
Ireland continues to be the primary destination for new capital investment.
Do you expect to actively pursue any of the following transaction initiatives over the next 12 months?
[The respondents were asked to select multiple responses]
Ireland continues to attract investment due to strong fundamentals such as stable government, policy certainty, and support for innovation, inspiring confidence for investors over the long term.
Ronan Murray
EY Ireland Partner Corporate Finance - Strategy and Transactions
Chapter 6
Technology, talent, and dealmaking are giving leaders the tools they need for the next phase.
Transformation programmes are accelerating, AI adoption is delivering measurable value, and hiring remains focussed on critical technology and data skills. M&A is back as a strategic lever, and Ireland continues to stands out as a investment.
Resilience - built through technology, talent, and partnerships – is becoming a defining capability for the years ahead.
Summary
Irish CEOs are pushing transformation at pace. They are cutting costs, scaling AI, strengthening talent, and using deals to bring in new capabilities. The focus is on resilience and long-term performance as rising costs and global uncertainty reshape decision-making.
Related content
Economic Eye, Autumn Forecast 2025
Economic Eye forecast provides an all-island economic review and commentary for the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
