Turlough O'Sullivan, IBEC's Director General, says he will retire in the coming months as he has reached retirement age.
He has been head of the main business and employer body for the past nine years. Mr O'Sullivan will continue in his present role until a successor is appointed.
After working in the private and semi-state sectors, Mr O'Sullivan joined the Federated Union of Employers in 1975 and subsequently IBEC in 1993. He was appointed General Director in 2000.
Announcing his retirement, Mr O'Sullivan said that there are very severe challenges for Irish public policy in the immediate years ahead.
'In time, the world economy will recover and I am confident that there is the public will in Ireland to position ourselves to benefit from this and so resume our positive growth path,' he added.
