Ornua confirms new chair designate
The board of Ornua today (Tuesday, April 8) confirmed that Kevin Toland is to step into the role of chair designate.
Toland, who has also been appointed as independent non-executive director, will formally take up the appointment next month on May 22.
The board of Ornua and owner of the Kerrygold brand also paid tribute today to its current chair, Aidan O’Driscoll, who has said he will not seek to be reappointed to the position when his current term ends in May 2025.
On behalf of the board, Conor Galvin, CEO of Ornua said: “Aidan has been an exemplary leader, guiding Ornua through significant milestones and challenges over the past number of years.
"His vision and commitment have left a lasting impact on Ornua, and we wish him the very best in his future endeavours."
Toland has held a range of senior executive director and non-executive director roles across beverage, food, nutrition, and aviation sectors.
He was previously group CEO and board executive director of Aryzta AG and DAA Plc, and an executive director of Glanbia plc from 2003 to 2013.
He is currently chair of Gas Networks Ireland and Vasorum, and is a non-executive director of Dole plc.
Aidan O’Driscoll, outgoing chair of Ornua said, on behalf of the co-op's board, he wanted to congratulate Kevin Toland on his appointment.
"Kevin has a breadth of experience demonstrated through his highly successful career across a range of sectors nationally and internationally, and is exceptionally well placed to lead the Ornua board into the future," O'Driscoll added.
Meanwhile, as one of Ireland's largest exporters of dairy products to the US, the co-op, like many Irish companies, is closely monitoring the current position in relation to the new US tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump.
It has said it “remains hopeful that a negotiated solution can be reached between the US and the EU”.
New developments earlier today suggest the European Commission is keen to take on board concerns raised by member states over the potential impact of any counter tariffs against the US as it emerged that dairy, whiskey and wine may be off its retaliatory list.
Barry Cowen, Fianna Fáil MEP for Midlands North-West, confirmed that he had seen the latest version of the proposed list of counter-tariffs and it does not include some of the products that Irish exporters were most concerned about.
