Tara McCarthy has been named as the next CEO of Bord Bia. In May of this year, incumbent Bord Bia chief executive
Aidan Cotter signalled his intention to retire in early 2017. The announcement allows time for a smooth transition.Cotter is due to retire on 25 January.
Tara McCarthy has been named as the next CEO of Bord Bia. In May of this year, incumbent Bord Bia chief executive Aidan Cotter signalled his intention to retire in early 2017. The announcement allows time for a smooth transition.
Cotter is due to retire on 25 January.
However, as Cotter recently outlined, there are many challenges ahead for the new CEO, not least of which is Brexit.
Tara McCarthy steps into the role carrying a wealth of experience. Currently CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (Ireland’s seafood development agency), she was a former director of Bord Bia’s food and beverage division for eight years.
A Bachelor of Commerce graduate with an MBS in Marketing from the Smurfit Business School, McCarthy is no stranger to travelling, having worked in Germany, France and Belgium. She has been a regular contributor to the Government’s Food Harvest 2020 and 2025 reports, delivering a number of instrumental initiatives for Bord Bia and the Irish food industry under the '‘Pathways for Growth'’ programme.
McCarthy was previously the director of the Food and Beverages Division in Bord Bia.
Exciting time
In statement on Thursday morning, McCarthy said he is looking forward to the role while she expressed her gratitude for the work Aidan Cotter has done.
“It is an honour to be asked to lead Bord Bia during what is a very exciting time for the Irish food and drink industry. Our total exports target of €19bn, as set out by FoodWise 2025, is ambitious, yet achievable, and I am looking forward to working with all stakeholders, including farmers, food manufacturers and producers in order to reach that goal. I want to pay tribute to my predecessor, Aidan Cotter, and I hope to build upon his outstanding work over the coming years," McCarthy said.
The appointment was announced on the day of the Women & Agriculture conference in Sligo, where Agriculture Michael Creed congratulated McCarthy, the first female chief executive of Bord Bia. This was greeted by a round of applause from the candidates.
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Who is new Bord Bia chief Tara McCarthy?
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