Joe Connolly is Executive Vice President and Head of U.S. Business Development for Bank of Ireland’s U.S. Branch. In this role he and his team are responsible for identifying and establishing relationships with the many U.S. multinationals operating in Ireland. Regarding his role, he says,  “U.S. foreign direct investment played a key role in  the Irish recovery story and is recognized as such. Our position as the leading Irish bank working with these U.S. multinationals is something we are very proud of and do not take for granted.”

The Bank’s U.S. office also works closely with the fast growing number of Irish companies that have established U.S. subsidiaries in recent years. These companies employ over 89,000 people in the United States, putting Ireland in the top ten of international companies providing U.S. employment.

Born and raised in Dublin, Joe has worked for the Bank of Ireland for 37 years, holding a number of senior treasury management positions in Dublin before relocating to the U.S. with his family in late 2003. While always proud of his Irish background, he says he has been very humbled during his 13 years living in the U.S. by experiencing first-hand the enormous pride Irish Americans have in Ireland and their desire to support its continued recovery.