New CEO for Arrabawn Tipp Co-op

Previously worked at Dairygold

Arrabawn Tipperary Co-Operative Society is pleased to announce the appointment of a new CEO.

Following a competitive process, experienced dairy processing executive Eamon O’Sullivan, a native of Mourneabbey, Mallow, Co Cork, will take over from long-time CEO of the former Arrabawn Co-Op and founding CEO of Arrabawn Tipperary, Conor Ryan. Mr O’Sullivan will take up the post in the autumn.

Mr O’Sullivan, who grew up on the family dairy farm in Cork, now lives on the farm with his wife Margaret and their four children, where they together manage a beef enterprise. He has a 30-year track-record of delivering benchmark results, with particular expertise in growth strategy and transformation, people leadership, change management, supply chain and sustainability. He spent the last five years of his career as General Manager of the dairy division of Dairygold Co-Operative Society Ltd and prior to that was Chief Operating Officer at Novartis International Pharmaceutical Branch Ireland based in Ringaskiddy Cork. He is also a former Supply Chain Director at Dairygold and Head of Chemical Operations Supply Chain at Novartis.

Eamon started his career with SmithKline Beecham where he took up positions of increasing responsibility, including a number of years managing their Australian factory and subsequently becoming operations director for the Africa/Middle East region.

He graduated with a Business Studies Bachelor’s Degree at the University of Limerick, majoring in Agricultural Economics, and completed a Business Studies Master’s Degree, majoring in Strategy and Competition, at University College Cork. He also holds a Green Certificate in agriculture and other relevant professional certifications.

TRACK RECORD

Commenting on his appointment, Arrabawn Tipperary Chairman, Edward Carr, said: “As a board and interview panel, we’ve conducted a very thorough process for our successor to Conor Ryan and we are delighted to confirm that Eamon has accepted the role. Eamon has a comprehensive track-record in the dairy and multi-national sector. He will bring the requisite experience and expertise to the role to carry on Conor’s great work as we transition this newly merged entity to one of Ireland’s largest and most successful dairy processing and agri foods businesses.

“It’s an exciting time for Arrabawn Tipperary as we advance this newly formed entity but Eamon’s mix of strategy, people and technical skills, together with his deep industry knowledge, is the right fit to take us on this journey over the coming months and years.

“I want to take the opportunity also now to thank Conor Ryan for his incredible stewardship of the co-op over the past 20 years. During that time, he has taken the co-op on a remarkable growth journey that included the acquisition of Dawn Dairies, a huge investment programme to create one of the country’s leading processors, complete with a thriving dairy, food ingredients and agri business and, most recently, the merger of Arrabawn with Tipperary Co-op.”

Mr O’Sullivan stated: “I’m really excited at the prospects of taking up this post at Arrabawn Tipperary Co-Op. The merger of the two last year was a natural and promising coming together of two neighbouring co-ops with so much more than geography in common. The new co-op is ambitious, and I completely share the excitement around the opportunity that lies ahead for it and its members. At the same time, I acknowledge that there will be challenges along the way as this is a fast-changing industry, but the right level of strategic planning, people management and, of course, a continuing pursuit of excellence will ensure the success of the business.

“I’m very much looking forward to taking up the post and working in partnership with the board, with Conor until his retirement later this year, the wider leadership team, employees and, indeed, the wider co-op membership. It’s a superb time to be coming on board and I’m very confident about the journey ahead.”

ARRABAWN TIPPERARY CO-OP

Arrabawn Tipperary Co-op, which has a combined history of over 200 years in dairying, is owned and controlled by over 4,800 members. More than 1,400 farmers across 16 counties, supply 750 million litres of milk annually with projected annual turnover of in excess of €700 million.

The new co-op comprises two primary ingredient manufacturing facilities at Nenagh and Tipperary, processing almost 900 million litres of milk products annually; 15 agri trading stores, including flagship facilities at Nenagh, Tipperary Town and Athenry; one of Ireland’s leading feed brands, Dan O’Connor Feeds and French based cheese production facility, Tippagral.