IDA chief executive Seán Dorgan will step down at the end of the year after 8 years in the post, the agency announced today.
Mr Dorgan is the IDA's fifth chief executive in its 38-year history as an autonomous state-sponsored body.
An IDA statement today said Mr Dorgan will conclude his tenure as chief executive at the end of this year.
IDA chairman John Dunne said "Mr Dorgan has led outstanding progress with foreign direct investment (FDI) into Ireland in an environment of intense globalisation and increased competition".
He described Mr Dorgan "as an exponent of innovation and that has led a team of experienced people in identifying and targeting emerging technologies for Ireland and, in addition, reinventing what Ireland has to offer global companies".
The IDA said its board would now commence a process for the selection of its next chief executive.
The recruitment process will be conducted both in Ireland and internationally. Advertisements will appear in national newspapers in coming days, it said.