Bord Bia, the government agency responsible for the promotion of the food, drink, and horticulture industry globally, has announced that its chief executive officer (CEO), Tara McCarthy, is to step down from her role later this year.

McCarthy will take up a new position with Alltech in June 2022.

Chairman of the organistion, Dan MacSweeney, has paid tribute to Tara McCarthy saying: "On behalf of the board of Bord Bia, I wish Tara the very best for the future and thank her for her tremendous efforts on behalf of Bord Bia and for her dedication and commitment to our client companies and the food, drink, and horticulture sector.

"The search for a successor to Tara begins immediately and, in the interim, I have full confidence in the leadership team in Bord Bia to continue to successfully execute our new and exciting strategy.”

Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Charlie McConalogue said: "I thank Tara McCarthy for her energy, leadership and commitment to Bord Bia and the wider agri-food industry.

"Tara has nurtured top talent, as well as building Ireland’s voice in thought leadership on sustainability, with benefits for the sector as a whole.

"Tara has focused on developing new markets while building on existing ones to the benefit of our world-class primary producers, farm families and fishers," the minister added.

Minister of State with responsibility for research and development, farm safety and new market development, Martin Heydon, said: "I would like to pay sincere tribute to Tara McCarthy for her dedicated service.

"She has helped to build trust and confidence in Irish food, promoting Irish products here and around the world by standing behind the producers of Ireland, supporting them to reach global markets," Heydon added.

Tara McCarthy said: “I am very grateful for the wonderful privilege I have had to lead Bord Bia. It is an exciting and thought-provoking organisation, with a powerful and inspiring mission.

"I will continue to play my full part in Bord Bia until my departure and to ensure an orderly transition I will work in partnership with the board as they begin the recruitment process for my successor," she said.