Former Dairygold chief executive Jim Woulfe has been named as the new chair of Enterprise Ireland. Mr Woulfe has served in the position in an interim role since June 2025.
Mr Woulfe, originally from Ardagh in Co Limerick, is a UCC dairy science graduate, and worked in the dairy industry for 42 years, beginning his career in 1979 with Ballyclough Co‑operative, which later merged into Dairygold.
Mr Woulfe settled in Ballyclough in North Cork. He held senior leadership positions at Dairygold and was appointed chief executive in 2009, a position he held until December 2021. Dairygold now has a turnover of €1.5bn and processes 1.45bn litres of milk annually from 2,400 suppliers.
Mr Woulfe was named as interim chair of Enterprise Ireland in June 2025, taking over when Michael Carey stepped down from the role.
Enterprise minister Peter Burke said Mr Woulfe brings extensive enterprise leadership and governance experience Mr Woulfe brings to the role. “Jim brings a proven track record in corporate governance, strategic leadership and enterprise development, skills that are essential in strengthening Ireland’s enterprise base, creating employment and supporting companies to compete internationally,” said Mr Burke.
“Jim has already demonstrated strong leadership as Interim Chair. I look forward to working with him as Enterprise Ireland drives the growth of a vibrant, resilient, regionally balanced enterprise sector and supports companies to scale, export and embrace innovation.”
