The CIF has announced Andrew Brownlee as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective from 1 October 2025, replacing Hubert Fitzpatrick, current Director General, who will retire on 30 September 2025.

Andrew has been CEO at SOLAS, the state agency responsible for further education, construction skills and apprenticeship, since September 2019, having previously served as Executive Director for Strategy and Knowledge.

He joined SOLAS from the Higher Education Authority, where he was Head of System Funding from 2015 to 2019. Before that, Andrew had a long and distinguished career in management consulting, working for Fitzpatrick Associates, PA Consulting and PwC. Andrew has a Master’s in Economics and Accounting from the University of Edinburgh.

Andrew Brownlee said: “I am really excited to be joining the Construction Industry Federation at this critical time for the construction industry. Housing and infrastructure are pivotal to Ireland’s next phase of social and economic transformation, and I will be working intensively on behalf of the industry to ensure that the investment and supports are in place to drive growth and success.

 “I am proud to become CEO of such an important and longstanding organisation and look forward to engaging with members to understand their needs and ensure that the CIF delivers for them.”

President of the Construction Industry Federation, Stephen McCarthy, welcomes Andrew Brownlee as CEO on behalf of the federation and wishes him every success in his role.

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