Tom Arnold has been appointed director general of the Institute of International and European Affairs in Dublin with effect from November 1st this year. He succeeds Dáithí Ó Ceallaigh who retired this week after 3½ years in the post.

As director general, he will be responsible for the day-to-day management of the institute.

An agricultural economist by training, Mr Arnold holds master’s degrees in business administration and strategic management and has been awarded honorary doctorates by both the National University of Ireland and UCD.

He is currently
chairman of the Convention on the Constitution and was previously chief executive of Concern Worldwide.

He has worked in the Department of
Agriculture as chief economist and as assistant secretary.

He is currently
chairman of the Irish Times Trust.

The chairman of the institute, Brendan Halligan, said Mr Arnold would continue a distinguished line of directors general and bring a unique
combination of national and international service to the post.

"He is ideally equipped to guide the institute through the next phase of development in which the rise of China, climate change and world hunger will rank in equal
importance with the political and economic challenges currently posed by greater European integration," said Mr Halligan.