Ornua has confirmed that Aidan O’Driscoll will not seek to be reappointed to the position of Ornua Co-operative chair when his current term ends this May.

O’Driscoll was elected to the position in July 2022 and is currently the chair of the Commission on Generational Renewal.

He was previously chair of the Commission on the Defence Forces and also served as Secretary General of the Department of Justice for two years.

Before this, O'Driscoll held a number high-level positions in the Department of Agriculture, Food, and the Marine (DAFM).

He served as secretary general of the department from 2015-2018, assistant secretary general for Finance, EU Affairs, Economics and Climate Change from 2001 to 2015, and chief economist of the DAFM from 1995 to 2001.

A spokesperson for Ornua told Agriland: "Mr O’Driscoll informed the board of directors and Ornua’s member co-operatives of his decision in December 2024.

Aidan O’Driscoll's imminent departure as chair of Ornua comes agains the backdrop of one of the biggest potential business challenges that the co-op has faced - the imposition of new US tariffs by President Donald Trump.

The co-op said while it is disappointed by the new US tariffs it also “remains hopeful that a negotiated solution can be reached between the US and the EU”.

It outlined that its products "are subject to US import duties and additional tariffs will have a negative impact on our business, on our US consumers, and on the dairy farmers who supply Kerrygold".

“For over 30 years, US consumers have chosen Kerrygold because of its distinct Irish grassfed credentials.

“We will endeavour to ensure Kerrygold butter and cheese continues to offer US consumers a unique proposition," the co-op stated. It also highlighted that the US will remain a very important market for Ornua.

"We are committed to further investing in our businesses there, and meeting the needs of our wonderful US consumers who love Irish grass-fed dairy,” it added.