Aidan McKenna leads Irish business expansion across the Americas

Aidan McKenna leads Enterprise Ireland’s Americas operation from New York and oversees nine offices supporting more than 900 Irish firms as they enter and scale across North, Central, and South America. He says the focus is on practical, one-to-one help that speeds market entry and helps companies avoid common pitfalls.

Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government agency charged with helping Irish-owned companies become global leaders by supporting market entry, export growth, and scaling activities. The agency provides funding, market research, advisory projects, and in-market connections to help companies win customers overseas.

 Aidan McKenna, Regional Director of the Americas, says North America remains essential because of its size and scale and because it is still the number one market for Irish technology and services companies. He notes that, at €7.3 billion in exports in 2024, North America accounted for roughly 20 percent of his clients’ total export revenue and continues to grow.

“North America remains the number one export market for our Technology and Services companies as the size and scale of the market is attractive to those innovative companies that want to rapidly scale their business,” he told IrishCentral.

McKenna stresses that Enterprise Ireland aims to move beyond events and introductions to deliver hands on supports.

“We are working on a new initiative that is part of our current strategy to make entering and scaling in the market easier for our clients,” he said.

“Our landing pad initiative will help fast-track clients in establishing a presence in the market and ensure that they develop and execute the correct go-to-market plan and avoid some of the common pitfalls in establishing a presence here.”

The agency also says it provides market-access funding and advisory services to help companies prepare.

When asked for examples of recent success stories, McKenna points to both long-established multinationals and a new wave of Irish exporters.

“Many readers will know of companies such as Kerry Group, Glanbia, Kingspan, Smurfit Westrock and CRH,” he said, and he highlighted newer Irish headquarters expanding in the US, such as ICON Clinical, Uniphar, Applegreen and Skillsoft.

He sums up the common lesson this way. “A common characteristic of these companies in scaling their operations here is recognising that investing in operations and teams enhances their growth potential.”

McKenna sees particular promise in tech, data centre construction, pharma, and advanced manufacturing as US policy and private investment create demand for local, high-tech supply chains. He pointed to CEL Critical Power opening a Virginia manufacturing and assembly facility as an example of Irish firms meeting that demand and creating hundreds of jobs.

“The US Administration’s goal of bringing more manufacturing back to the US is also providing an opportunity for these global leaders in high-tech construction and advanced manufacturing supply chains to support that growth and ambition in the US,” he said.

With rising geopolitical and trade uncertainty, McKenna says Enterprise Ireland has built dedicated supports to help clients navigate trade barriers and tariffs.

“We played a central role in establishing a Trade Barrier support team this year to ensure clients had support and access to specialist advice to navigate the changing trading environment,” he said. He added that the agency launched new financial support and a directory of experts to help firms respond quickly.

McKenna, who led the creation of Enterprise Ireland’s sustainability unit in 2021, argues that sustainability is a commercial advantage as well as a moral one.

“Key to Enterprise Ireland’s strategy is to create sustainable Irish companies…those that create jobs that are well paid, contribute to spending in the Irish economy and have a reduced carbon footprint,” he said.

He explained that companies investing in sustainable operations are more likely to deliver higher revenues, better jobs, and long-term profitability.

Ireland is a major investor in the United States, and the transatlantic relationship is deeply reciprocal. Irish sources and government statements put Irish investment in the US at roughly $390 billion and describe Ireland as one of the top five foreign investors in the US. McKenna frames Enterprise Ireland’s role as articulating the value that Ireland brings to US firms and communities and building partnerships that last.

“Enterprise Ireland is the Irish government agency responsible for driving foreign direct investment into the US. We will play an important role in positioning Ireland as a key partner to the US,” he said.

Beyond headline export numbers, McKenna says success is measured by practical commercial outcomes for clients, such as contracts won and strategic advisory projects that accelerate growth.

“We also measure the connections we make for our clients that have a commercial impact. This is a hard metric that keeps the team commercially focused and ultimately accelerates our clients' success in the market,” he said.

The aim, he added, is for Irish-owned and operated companies to become an even bigger driver of wealth and employment in Ireland.

For Irish Americans with business ties or an interest in investing, McKenna’s message is straightforward. Spend time in the market, invest in local teams, and focus on innovation and customer value.

“Enterprise Ireland encouraged our clients to engage with their US customers. Regularly spend time with them and work towards common solutions,” he said.

For communities on both sides of the Atlantic, he sees the relationship deepening through jobs, supply chains, and cultural exchange.

As tariffs and political uncertainty test old assumptions, McKenna wants Irish firms to see the Americas not as a risk to avoid but as a market that rewards commitment and practical planning.

"Our priorities going forward are to encourage our clients to continue to invest time and resources into the market as it does reward those companies that are committed to it,” he said.