Hugh Kelly is an experienced CEO, entrepreneur and non-executive director with a track record in helping businesses in a diverse range of industries to grow nationally and internationally. He was President of the Irish Exporters Association in 2014 and 2015. He is also a Non-Executive Director of the Royal Victoria Eye & Ear Hospital. His experience spans the commercial and the not-for-profit sectors, in both mature and start-up enterprises. Sectoral experience includes food, life sciences, architectural/ construction products, engineering and renewable energy.

He is a recognised expert in exporting and international trade. Specific expertise includes international marketing and channel strategies, channel partner profiling and identification, commercial agreements, partner development and channel performance management. His international networks, in-market, are extensive. His market experience covers Ireland, the UK, the Middle East, SE Asia, China, NE Asia, Australia and New Zealand, as well as continental Europe, the US and South Africa. He offers significant experience in Leadership, Corporate Governance, Financial and Risk Management, Entrepreneurship and Strategy Development, Partnerships and Channel Development, International Marketing Strategy and Business Development, Operations Management and Human Resources.

He has a MBA (1993-95) from UCD Smurfit School of Business. He holds a primary degree in Civil Engineer from Trinity College Dublin and worked as an engineer in Ireland, France, Canada and the UK before returning to Ireland in 1993. As an engineer, he specialised in water and environmental engineering.