The board of Design & Crafts Council Ireland (DCCI) has appointed Mary Blanchfield as chief executive.

Blanchfield has held the position of interim chief executive since September. DCCI said the announcement was made following an extensive recruitment process conducted across Ireland, the UK "and beyond".

Blanchfield has been an employee of DCCI for over 25 years, most recently in the role of head of operations.

"She has in-depth knowledge of the craft and design sector and the wider stakeholder community, and her professional experience includes expertise in governance, finance, strategy and programme management," DCCI said in a statement

Peter Hynes, chair of DCCI said: “We are delighted to announce the appointment of Mary Blanchfield as CEO of Design & Crafts Council Ireland.

"Mary has been an integral part of the organisation for over two decades, where she has an understanding of the sector, unwavering dedication and exceptional leadership.

"Mary’s appointment marks a very exciting chapter for the agency where she will be leading the team on the current strategy and working to bring the next strategy to focus from 2027.

"We are confident that under her guidance, the organisation will continue to grow and support the design and craft community.”

Design & Crafts Council Ireland is the national agency for craft and design in Ireland. It supports designers and makers to develop their businesses in a sustainable way, and advocate for the societal benefits of craft and design.

DCCI is funded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment via Enterprise Ireland. It currently has 67 member organisations and over 3,500 registered clients.

Photo: Mary Blanchfield. (Pic: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland)