Accenture’s Alastair Blair to chair IBEC digital economy group

15 Jul 2015

Every business today is a digital business, says Accenture Ireland country manager Alastair Blair.

In this day and age every business is a digital business says Accenture Ireland’s country manager Alastair Blair, who has just been appointed chairman of the new IBEC Digital Economy Policy Committee.

IBEC has been focusing its efforts on this area in response to the ever-increasing impact of digital technology on the wider economy.

The purpose of the committee will be to discuss and influence national and European policies that impact on the creation of a strong digital economy in Ireland, allowing greater innovative use of technology-driven change across all sectors of the Irish economy.

Blair heads up Accenture’s local workforce of more than 1,600 people in Ireland, and prior to this he was head of Accenture’s Financial Services business in the UK.

“The digital agenda is critical to the development of Ireland going forward.  In this day and age, where every business is a digital business, I believe it is important for us to collaborate across industry on this topic and advance the interests of all members, for the betterment of our country.

“There is huge opportunity for us to take a leadership position.  For me personally, this is a priority, and for Accenture we are committed to the development of digital as a key area of focus in the drive to help companies thrive into a new future.”

In a recent interview with Siliconrepublic.com Blair warned that Dublin has a six-to-eight month window before available start-up space in the city centre is ‘sold out’.

He urged that a visionary solution is needed as start-ups will represent the next wave of FDI.

John Kennedy is a journalist who served as editor of Silicon Republic for 17 years

editorial@siliconrepublic.com