How Irish CEOs are building resilience in a world of tariffs, tech shifts, and uncertainty

Irish CEOs are optimistic yet cautious, adapting strategies to thrive amid global challenges and uncertainty.

In brief

• Over 70% of Irish CEOs are optimistic about growth but recognize geopolitical tensions as major challenges.
• More than three-quarters are localising supply chains, viewing this as a long-term strategic reset.
• Nearly 50% expect prolonged disruption, embedding flexibility into their strategies.

Irish business leaders are striking a delicate balance in 2025: confidence in their own organisations, tempered by caution about the world around them. That was the clear message from the latest EY-Parthenon CEO Outlook Survey (Ireland cut), which formed the basis of discussion in the recent episode of The Geostrategic Edge.

Confidence with caution

The survey shows more than 70% of Irish CEOs remain optimistic about their own company’s growth prospects. Ireland itself is their number one destination for capital investment, followed closely by the U.S. and U.K. Yet this optimism doesn’t mask the realities of a volatile global landscape. Geopolitical tensions, trade frictions, and regulatory unpredictability consistently rank among the greatest obstacles to hitting financial targets in the year ahead.

In short: Irish CEOs trust in their own resilience, but they are realistic about the world they’re operating in.

Resilience built in, not bolted on

Nowhere is this clearer than in supply chains and operations. More than three-quarters of Irish CEOs are localising or regionalising in response to tariffs and geopolitical disruption. Crucially, two-thirds see this not as a temporary fix, but as a long-term strategic reset.

This shift is happening across supply chains, R&D, sales, governance, and technology. Resilience is no longer a bolt-on, it’s being hardwired into how organisations run. 

Irish CEOs aren’t waiting for stability; they’re acting now to future-proof their businesses.

Volatility is the new baseline

CEOs are also bracing for prolonged disruption. Nearly 50% expect turbulence to continue for three to five years. The numbers back this view: U.S. tariff rates have jumped to an average of 17.6%, up from less than 3% at the start of the year. New measures are targeting pharma, semiconductors, and critical minerals, sending shockwaves across global supply chains.

Consumer-facing brands are already sounding the alarm. Global companies already warn of hundreds of millions in additional costs, prompting price hikes that ripple through supply chains into consumer demand. Irish CEOs recognise this reality: volatility is not a phase, it’s the baseline. The most forward-looking leaders are embedding flexibility and agility into every layer of strategy.

Portfolio transformation accelerates

Resilience doesn’t mean standing still. Almost 70% of Irish CEOs are accelerating or maintaining portfolio transformation, investing in technology, restructuring, and pursuing M&A. Ireland’s deal market remains particularly active in technology and healthcare, with private equity circling mid-market opportunities. The common thread is selectivity: acquisitions are targeted to secure supply chains, add new capabilities, or open markets.

But not all businesses can keep pace. Rising labour costs and persistent talent shortages are among the top three challenges CEOs cite. For many SMEs, the reality is tighter margins, cutbacks in borrowing, and delayed investment. The gap between larger corporates and smaller firms is widening, raising questions about long-term competitiveness across the Irish economy.

Technology as both opportunity and risk

Alongside geopolitics, technology is reshaping boardroom agendas at speed. Artificial intelligence, in particular, is top of mind. CEOs are investing, but with caution. More than a third identify AI disruption and integration as a critical concern. They know that innovation must be matched with governance and compliance, especially as regulatory frameworks diverge across markets.

Anchoring local decisions in a global context

The bigger picture is clear. Tariffs are rising, AI policy is fragmenting, and industrial policies are proliferating worldwide. For Irish CEOs, the challenge is to connect day-to-day decisions with this shifting geostrategic context.

The edge will belong to leaders who can do both: doubling down on local resilience while keeping one eye firmly on the global chessboard. In a world where volatility is the baseline, anchoring strategy in both local strength and global awareness will define the next era of Irish business leadership.