Pat Rigney, the managing director and founder of "The Shed Distillery" in Co Leitrim, has been appointed Chair of Drinks Ireland|Spirits.
Drinks Ireland|Spirits is the representative body responsible for promoting the interests of the Irish spirits industry.
"The Shed Distillery" makes Drumshanbo Gunpowder Irish Gin.
Mr Rigney, who was previously vice-chair of the representative body, will take over from Aoife Clarke, who is senior director of International Public Affairs at Beam Suntory.
Bryan Fallon, director of TJ Carolan's, has been appointed as the new Vice-Chair of Drinks Ireland|Spirits.
Pat Rigney said that Ireland's spirits industry continues to go from strength to strength, with the value of spirits exports from Ireland increasing by 10.2% between 2017 and 2018, from €916m to over €1 billion.
"We also have a dynamic domestic spirits market, driven by the growing popularity of premium spirits products like Irish whiskey and gin," he added.
He said the organisation wants to continue to drive this growth, but he cautioned that there are a number of imminent issues ahead, including tariffs and Brexit.
