Martin Shanahan

Martin Shanahan serves as the Head of Industry for Grant Thornton Advisors LLC, overseeing operations, strategy and growth initiatives for the firm across a range of industries — namely: technology, life sciences, energy, asset management, banking, insurance, healthcare, hospitality, construction and real estate, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, not-for-profit and higher education, retail and consumer brands, services, media and entertainment. 

Shanahan served as a partner and head of Industry for Grant Thornton in Ireland since 2023. With more than 25 years of international experience in both the public and private sectors, he is a skilled leader with extensive experience in strategic planning, policy development, marketing and investment decision-making. 

Based in San Francisco and Dublin, Ireland, Shanahan has worked with international companies in multiple industries, advising them on their global location investment decisions and strategies. He has also been at the forefront of the development of enterprise, innovation and labor market policy in Ireland. 

Prior to joining Grant Thornton, Shanahan served as the CEO of industrial development agency IDA Ireland for over eight years. In this role, he led a considerable expansion in investments, employment and economic impact in the Foreign Direct Investment sector. He was previously the CEO of Forfás, the Irish Government’s policy advisory board for enterprise, trade, science, technology and innovation. 

Shanahan is an adjunct professor at UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business in Dublin. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Trinity College, Dublin, and a higher diploma and master’s degree from the Technological University of Dublin. He also holds a master’s degree from Lancaster University in the UK.

In 2023, Shanahan received the Irish Academy of Management T.K. Whitaker Award for lifetime contribution to the Irish economy and society.