Name: Kieran McGowan.

Education: Christian Brothers, Synge Street; College of Commerce, Rathmines; University College, Dublin.

Family: Married to Breda, three daughters, one son.

Career: Started in Irish Pensions Trust, moved to Pensions Office, studied at night at UCD, then moved to IDA in 1966. Held various positions before being made managing director in 1990, then chief executive of the revamped IDA Ireland in 1994. Stepped down last June and has since been appointed to several company boards, including CRH, Elan and United Drugs.

Why he is in the news: He is chairman of the IMI, which holds its annual conference this weekend in Killarney.