Fergal Brosnan appointed CEO of RDI Hub to lead strategic growth and innovation
The RDI Hub today announced the appointment of Fergal Brosnan as its new Chief Executive Officer, marking the start of an ambitious new chapter as the Hub accelerates its evolution to become one of the EU’s leading Technology Innovation Centres and a gateway to Europe for international innovators, scale ups and corporates.
A seasoned executive in technology, AI, strategy, and transformation, Fergal brings over two decades of global experience spanning financial services, technology, and venture growth. He succeeds Liam Cronin, who becomes Director of Innovation at Nova UCD.
In his new role, Fergal will lead the strategic direction of the RDI Hub as it builds on its national success and expands its footprint to be one of Europe’s leading Artificial Intelligence Innovation Hubs. The Hub is already actively engaged in several EU-funded initiatives, including DIBEST, FoodCoP, and PREWAPHARM, and is poised to deepen its impact through cross-border collaboration and innovation leadership.
Fergal’s appointment was officially announced this morning.
The RDI Hub is a not-for-profit public-private partnership founded by global fintech company Fexco, Munster Technological University, and Kerry County Council, with support from Enterprise Ireland. Over the past five years, the Hub has supported more than 100 startups and scaling companies, which have collectively secured over €250 million in funding, created over 430 jobs, and launched 70 new products and services. Since 2020, over 10,000 people have participated in RDI Hub training programmes.
RDI Hub’s next phase of innovation
Building on its strong foundation in leading technology and Artificial Intelligence, particularly across Fintech and other high-growth sectors, the RDI Hub is expanding its reach to engage a wider innovation community of startups, scale-ups, and corporates, creating a dynamic environment where ideas are accelerated and partnerships thrive.
Inside the Hub’s cutting-edge innovation and events spaces, trailblazing startups and forward-thinking corporates collaborate to design, test, and build new ventures and breakthrough technologies. Supported by a network of mentors, advisors, and investors, this innovation community connects ideas with impact — driving venture creation and positioning Ireland as a launch pad for global innovators into Europe.
This next phase will strengthen Ireland’s position at the forefront of applied innovation and ensure the southwest remains a place where global ambition meets local opportunity.
Partner perspectives
Neil Hosty, CEO, Fexco Group:
“We are delighted to welcome Fergal to the RDI Hub team. His deep expertise in technology and strategic growth, combined with hands-on entrepreneurial experience, brings a valuable perspective as the Hub enters its next phase. The Hub plays a vital role in helping founders scale new businesses while delivering specialist programming to the Southwest region. Fergal will build on the strong foundation established in the first five years, and we look forward to the impact he’ll make.”
Christina Clancy, Regional Manager, Enterprise Ireland:
“Enterprise Ireland is proud to support the RDI Hub as it continues to scale its impact nationally and internationally. The Hub is a great example of how public–private collaboration can deliver real results — creating jobs, supporting startups and scale-ups, and strengthening Ireland’s position as a hub for innovation and technology leadership across Europe. Fergal’s appointment brings new energy and experience to this mission, and we look forward to supporting the next phase of RDI Hub’s journey.”
Tim Daly, Vice President Engagement and International, Munster Technological University:
“The RDI Hub serves as a vital bridge between academic research and commercial innovation. Fergal’s appointment further strengthens the strong partnership between the RDI Hub and MTU. MTU’s academic and research excellence in areas such as artificial intelligence, data, and digital transformation aligns closely with the RDI Hub’s focus on real-world application. Together, our continued collaboration will enhance Ireland’s position as a leading and dynamic innovation ecosystem within Europe.”
Fearghal Reidy, Chief Executive, Kerry County Council:
“RDI Hub is central to Kerry’s innovation economy and a clear example of how global ambition can thrive in a regional setting. Its continued growth as one of the EU’s leading Technology Innovation Centres will attract investment, talent, and opportunity to the region.”
Fergal brings over two decades of executive experience across global markets, including Ireland, the UK, Europe, the US, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. He also brings experience of growing his own firm, scaling to international markets and growth as an EI client, and successful acquisition.
Most recently serving as Head of Strategy Development at Bank of Ireland, Fergal led major transformation and investment initiatives and the implementation of strategic workforce structures. His leadership in data, Artificial Intelligence, and analytics has enabled smarter decision-making and deeper business insights, while his work in regulatory compliance and financial planning has supported robust governance and risk management.
Prior to this, Fergal held senior roles at Validant, Rethink Group, and Berkley Group, where he spearheaded international expansion, M&A integration, and digital innovation. As CEO/Managing Director of Berkley Group, he oversaw operations across EMEA and Asia-Pacific, working with global clients such as Apple, Google, Pfizer, and MSD. His strategic leadership helped drive revenue growth, operational efficiency, and market entry in multiple countries.
Speaking about his new appointment, Fergal Brosnan said:
“It’s an honour to lead the RDI Hub at such an exciting time. Our vision is to make Killorglin and the southwest a globally connected epicentre for AI-driven innovation and venture creation. By expanding our offering to engage startups, scale-ups, corporates, and international partners, we’ll strengthen our role as Ireland’s gateway to Europe, a place where innovation happens through collaboration, mentorship, and shared ambition.”
Since its launch, the RDI Hub has maintained a strong focus on Artificial Intelligence, hosting the annual two-day John McCarthy AI Summer School, now in its 6th year, this year’s theme centred on AI for Finance. The Hub also delivers Ireland’s largest recurring monthly Gen AI gathering, the Gen AI Masterclass Series.
In February, the RDI Hub announced the €1M Smart Regions AI Navigator programme, designed to help SMEs adopt and implement AI solutions. Delivered in partnership with Portershed and Greentech HQ, the programme is co-funded by the Government of Ireland and the European Union through the Southern, Eastern and Midland Regional Programme 2021–2027.
