Garda Síochána director of communications Sinéad McSweeney is to leave her post to take up a key role with Twitter, the micro-blogging social media service.
She is to become head of public policy (Europe) Twitter, based in the company’s office in Dublin.
She has been head of the Garda’s communications team since 2007, following a period in the same role for the Police Service of Northern Ireland.
Earlier, she served as special adviser to two attorney generals, David Byrne and Michael McDowell.
She is married to barrister Noel Whelan, The Irish Times columnist.
Twitter announced last year it was establishing an office in Dublin to manage its growth in Europe. Prior to this the operation has focused on sales and has hired a number of former Google executives.