The IDA has confirmed that Sean Dorgan will stand down as chief executive of the company at the end of this year.
Mr Dorgan, who is the only the fourth CEO of the agency in its 40-year history, has held the position since January 1999.
IDA Ireland chairman John Dunne has praised Mr Dorgan's work over the past eight years.
He said that Mr Dorgan 'is an exponent of innovation and has led a team of experienced people in identifying and targeting emerging technologies for Ireland and, in addition, reinventing what Ireland has to offer global companies.'
The board of IDA will now start the process of looking for a new CEO.
Applications will be taken from candidates both inside and outside Ireland, and advertisements will appear in national newspapers in the coming days.
