A Laois man has been appointed president of the Irish Exports Association (IEA) for 2026.

Ballacolla native Liam Hyland is the Director of Export and International Trade at FoodEx Ireland, part of the Musgrave Group.

Musgrave Group own leading food brands such as Supervalu, Centra and Mace, with Mr Hyland overseeing the export of products internationally.

The son of former Fianna Fáil TD Liam Hyland, Mr Hyland has been a National Council member of the IEA since 2020 and takes over from Gabrielle White, Executive Director, Head of Supply Chain and Logistics with PTC Therapeutics. 

"I have been on the IEA board for the last five years, and I was appointed as Vice-President last year, so I'm delighted and honoured to be President for 2026," Mr Hyland told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"I am delighted to be in this role, when there is plenty happening with global trade. It's an exciting time to be involved with the association, our members are going through challenging times so I am glad to be part of the system supporting them," the president said.

Originally from Ballacolla and now living in Abbeyleix, Mr Hyland's new role revolves around providing support to companies exporting goods internationally.

"We support our members and advocate on policies with the various stakeholders and trade bodies, it's a busy job at the moment. There's plenty to do, it's challenging but exciting at the same time," he explained.

Mr Hyland has worked in the export industry for his entire professional career, working as the sales and marketing manager with Glanbia's meat division for over 16 years.

He then went on to work as the managing director of Feile foods until March of 2012, when he became the export director of Green Isle foods. Mr Hyland has been the director of export and international trade with Musgrave group since 2017.

"I began with the IEA through being a user of the service, asking the association for help with different problems or support in the softening of regulations that may have caused some difficulties. The association's president is always from the export industry, and I have been involved in exports for over 30 years. It should be an interesting and busy year," Mr Hyland said. 

"We are seeing the rulebooks being torn up at the minute, and no day is the same in the industry. What may have once been predictable is now far more volatile, which is a problem and a challenge- it certainly isn't a boring role!" Mr Hyland laughed.

"At a time of increasing complexity in international trade, the work of the IEA in supporting exporters has never been more important," Mr Hyland said.

"I am committed to working closely with the IEA team to advocate for policies that enhance competitiveness and that support our members as they navigate regulatory and geopolitical challenges. Together we will focus on enhancing export capability, deepening strategic partnerships, and ensuring Irish exporters are well positioned to succeed on the international stage," he said.

“It is crucial that the IEA remains prominent in voicing the needs of its members to government and key stakeholder groups, ensuring that the Irish exporting industry can continue to grow sustainably in worldwide markets," Mr Hyland finished.

Mr Simon McKeever, Chief Executive of the IEA, welcomed Mr Hyland's appointment to this role.

“I am delighted to welcome Liam Hyland as President of the Irish Exporters Association for 2026. Liam brings deep international trade expertise, along with a proven dedication to customers that is central to his approach," Mr McKeever said in a statement to the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

"That same customer-focused mindset, combined with his strong focus on export capability development and strategic partnerships, will be instrumental in supporting our members and driving the continued growth of the IEA.

"In 2026 it will be critical that we work closely with our members to support them to navigate the day-to-day challenges they face such as market access, competitiveness and supply-chain resilience, while also advocating strongly on the broader international trade issues impacting Ireland.

"Liam’s experience and collaborative approach will be key to ensuring our members’ voices are heard and their export ambitions are realised," Mr McKeever finished.

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