What Does Invest Northern Ireland Do?

Total employees597
HeadquartersBelfast
Founded2002

Invest Northern Ireland (Invest NI) is the economic development agency for Northern Ireland. Its primary role is to grow the local economy by supporting new and existing businesses to compete internationally, and by attracting new inward investment to Northern Ireland. Invest NI offers a comprehensive range of services, including financial assistance, expert advice, and tailored guidance to businesses of all sizes, from start-ups and SMEs to large multinational corporations. The agency focuses on fostering innovation, research and development (R&D), skills development, and export growth across various key sectors critical to Northern Ireland's economic prosperity.

Where Is Invest Northern Ireland's Headquarters?

HQ Function

Serves as the central hub for strategic planning, policy development, international investment attraction, and the administration of support programs for businesses across Northern Ireland.

Notable Features:

Modern office facilities situated in a prominent city-centre location, designed to host meetings with businesses, international delegations, and key stakeholders. It provides an accessible point of contact for companies.

Work Culture:

A professional, dynamic, and collaborative environment focused on public service, economic development, and supporting business growth. The culture emphasizes expertise, client engagement, and achieving strategic economic objectives for Northern Ireland.

HQ Significance:

The headquarters is pivotal in coordinating national and international efforts to boost Northern Ireland's economy. It acts as the primary interface for businesses seeking government support and for international investors exploring opportunities in the region.

Values Reflected in HQ: The headquarters reflects values of professionalism, accessibility, innovation, and a strong commitment to fostering economic prosperity for Northern Ireland.

Location:

Invest Northern Ireland maintains a significant global presence with a network of international offices across the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. These offices are instrumental in supporting Northern Ireland businesses to expand their export activities and enter new international markets. They also proactively work to attract high-value foreign direct investment (FDI) into Northern Ireland. Key functions supported globally include international trade development, investment promotion, market intelligence gathering, lead generation, partnership building, and providing in-market practical support for businesses.

Street Address:

Bedford Square, Bedford Street

City:

Belfast

State/Province:

Northern Ireland

Country:

United Kingdom

Where Else Does Invest Northern Ireland Operate Around the World?

Londonderry, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Address: North West Regional Office, Orchard Way, Skeoge Industrial Estate, Londonderry, BT48 6XY

To deliver Invest NI's economic development programs and support services tailored to the specific needs and opportunities of the North West region, encouraging business start-ups, growth, and competitiveness.

New York, NY, USA

Address: The Chrysler Building, 405 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor, New York, NY 10174

To promote Northern Ireland as an attractive investment location, facilitate trade development between Northern Ireland and the US, and build strategic partnerships in North America.

Shanghai, China

Address: Unit 1005, Shui On Plaza, 333 Huai Hai Zhong Road, Shanghai, 200021

To strengthen economic ties with China, identify new business opportunities, provide market intelligence, and support companies from Northern Ireland in navigating the complexities of the Chinese market.

Brussels, Belgium

Address: Northern Ireland Executive Office, Rue d'Arlon 53, 1040 Brussels

To promote Northern Ireland trade and investment opportunities within Europe, monitor EU policy developments, and support local businesses in accessing European markets.

Buying Intent Signals for Invest Northern Ireland

Highperformr Signals uncover buying intent and give you clear insights to target the right accounts at the right time — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams close more deals, faster.

Notable news
Hiring actively
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
Corporate Finance
*Example signal, not calculated in real time

Who's Leading Invest Northern Ireland? Meet the Executive Team

As of April 2025, Invest Northern Ireland' leadership includes:

Colm McKenna - Chair
Kieran Donoghue - Chief Executive
Michelle Charrington - Chief Financial Officer
Alan McKeown - Executive Director, Strategy & Foundations
Anne Beggs - Executive Director, International Business
Ethna McNamee - Executive Director, Marketing & Business Development
William Revels - Executive Director, Regional Business & Inward Investment

Who's Investing in Invest Northern Ireland?

Invest Northern Ireland has been backed by several prominent investors over the years, including:

Department for the Economy (Northern Ireland Executive)

What Leadership Changes Has Invest Northern Ireland Seen Recently?

Hire2
Exits2

Over the past 12-18 months, Invest Northern Ireland has experienced key leadership transitions. Kieran Donoghue was appointed as the new permanent CEO in early 2024. Colm McKenna took on the role of Chair in mid-2023, succeeding Rose Mary Stalker whose term ended. Mel Chittock served as Interim CEO before Mr. Donoghue's appointment.

Departures

Mel Chittock, Mel Chittock stepped down as Interim CEO following the appointment of Kieran Donoghue as permanent CEO.
Rose Mary Stalker, Rose Mary Stalker's term as Chair of the Invest Northern Ireland Board concluded.

New Appointments:

Kieran Donoghue, Kieran Donoghue appointed as the new permanent Chief Executive Officer, starting early 2024.
Colm McKenna, Colm McKenna appointed as the new Chair of the Invest Northern Ireland Board.

What Technology (Tech Stack) Is Used byInvest Northern Ireland?

Discover the tools Invest Northern Ireland uses. Highperformr reveals the technologies powering your target accounts — helping your sales, marketing, and GTM teams prioritize smarter and close faster.

Invest Northern Ireland Email Formats and Examples

Invest Northern Ireland typically uses a standard email format for its employees. The most common format is the employee's full first name followed by a dot, then their full last name, and finally '@investni.com'. This structure is common for public sector organizations.

firstname.lastname@investni.com

Format

john.doe@investni.com

Example

85%

Success rate

What's the Latest News About Invest Northern Ireland?

Invest Northern Ireland NewsMay 2, 2024

Armagh ecommerce business quadruples sales with Invest NI support

Conturve, an Armagh-based ecommerce consultancy, has significantly grown its sales and expanded its team after participating in Invest NI’s Ambition to Grow programme. This highlights the agency's role in supporting local SMEs to scale and achieve substantial business growth....more

Invest Northern Ireland NewsApril 25, 2024

Invest Northern Ireland supports US tech firm Velan Studios to create 13 jobs in Belfast

US-based games developer Velan Studios is establishing a new quality assurance (QA) and art & design studio in Belfast, creating 13 new jobs. Invest NI has offered financial assistance to support these roles, bolstering Northern Ireland's reputation in the creative industries sector....more

BBC NewsDecember 7, 2023

Kieran Donoghue appointed new head of Invest NI

Kieran Donoghue was announced as the new chief executive of Invest Northern Ireland. Mr Donoghue, who has extensive experience in global investment attraction, was scheduled to take up the post in early 2024, succeeding interim chief executive Mel Chittock....more

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