Top role for Tipp's Michael

Elected as new ifac chair

ifac, the top ten professional services firm providing specialist advice to the farming, food, agribusiness, and family businesses, has announced its new chairperson as Michael Kennedy from County Tipperary.

For the next two years, the dairy farmer from Nenagh will chair the firm that specialises in tax advisory, accountancy, pension planning, succession planning, and a wide range of other financial services to help its clients build profitable and sustainable businesses.

Mr Kennedy operates a grassland-based dairy enterprise milking 160 cows with replacement stock across two farm blocks. He is a member of the Teagasc Discussion Group and serves on the IFA National Dairy Committee.

He brings considerable board experience to the role, having previously served as a director of Arrabawn Co-op, Central Auctions Co-op, Farmer Business Developments plc and Ripplecom plc. He is a past member of the IFA National Farm Business Committee and Macra na Feirme, and in 1996, he chaired the organising committee for the All-Ireland Sheep Shearing Championships. He holds a Master of Business Studies in Co-operative Organisation and Social Enterprise and a Diploma in Corporate Direction, both from University College Dublin.

Mr Kennedy succeeds Kerry farmer Brendan Lawlor, who has served as chairperson of ifac since 2021, overseeing a period of significant growth and expansion for the firm. The leadership change comes as ifac marks a landmark period in its development, having celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2025. From its origins as the Irish Farm Accounts Co-operative in 1975, ifac has grown into one of Ireland's top ten accountancy and advisory practices, with a national network of over 30 offices and a team of 600 professionals serving over 30,000 clients nationwide.

Commenting on his election, Mr Kennedy said: "It is a great honour to be elected Chair of ifac. I want to acknowledge the outstanding leadership of Brendan Lawlor, who has guided the firm through a period of remarkable growth, including our 50th anniversary year. Ifac was founded to serve farmers and regional businesses, and that mission is as relevant today as it was in 1975. The landscape for our clients is changing; whether that's the pressures on farm incomes, the demands of succession planning, or the opportunities that come with a more diversified regional economy. As Chair, I look forward to working with the Board, leadership team and colleagues across the country to build on that legacy, support the firm’s continued growth, and ensure ifac remains a trusted partner to farming, food, agribusiness and family businesses throughout Ireland.”

David McDonagh will serve as vice-chair of ifac, representing County Sligo. The suckler-to-beef and sheep farmer has been a member of the ifac board since 2015 and holds qualifications from Mountbellew Agricultural College, IT Sligo, and a Postgraduate qualification from NUI Galway completed in 2016. He was actively involved with Macra na Feirme from 2011 to 2017.