The Chamber

Mathieu Gorge is the new President of the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce

Mathieu Gorge, CEO Vigitrust and incoming President of the FICC with Joanne Grant, Managing Director of JCDecaux

Dublin, 15th December 2017: Mathieu Gorge, CEO of leading IT Security company Vigitrust, succeeds Joanne Grant, Managing Director of JCDecaux Ireland, as the new president of the FICC. 

Outgoing President Joanne Grant said “It has been an honour and a privilege to have served as President of the Chamber.  I am delighted to have led the successful expansion of our membership and working groups in the last 2 years and I am confident Mathieu will take the Chamber on to the next level during his presidency.”

Since 2015 FICC membership revenues have increased by 25% and 8 new patrons have joined the Chamber (60% of members are Irish companies and 40% are French companies). The Chamber has also significantly increased its activity and services to members, delivering a high-quality programme of networking and business events.

The President of the Chamber is renewed every 2 years and plays a key role in leading the Chamber’s mission to actively support the drive to increase trade between France and Ireland and to attract potential investors to both countries. 

Mr Gorge officially highlighted his vision to position the France Ireland Chamber of Commerce as an influential and valued player in the bilateral relationship in the critical post-Brexit years to come.

“Over the next two years, my ambition is to grow the chamber even further by on boarding additional patrons, new corporates and SME members”, stated Mathieu Gorge. “With the challenge of Brexit ahead we believe that we now have an even more important role to play in encouraging French companies to invest in Ireland, and Irish companies to invest in France.”

FICC Director Cliona McGowan explained “We are planning 25+ events for 2018.  This includes milestone events such as the Ireland France Business Awards with our partner, NetworkIrlande, Vive la Gastonomie Francaise dinner and the ICT Summit.  In addition our highly successful ‘Le NETwork’ group charged with developing business and support between our SMEs, Entrepreneurs, Start-ups and our larger member companies will meet 10 times next year”.

Constantly growing its network of partners and working closely with the French Embassy in Ireland, the Irish Embassy in France and their respective Government Agencies, the Chamber has developed highly successful Working Groups addressing specific industry issues – Infrastructure, Financial Services, ICT, CEO Challenges and also meeting regional members’ needs.