Who is incoming ABP chief Frank Stephenson?

The planned departure of Paul Finnerty later this year puts the spotlight on the man announced to succeed him, Frank Stephenson. Who is ABP getting as its new chief executive?

He was educated by the Cistercian College in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, and trained in accountancy; he is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. While his CV looks light on red meat experience compared with many ABP senior executives, he did in fact begin his working career with then Avonmore in the old Barretts and Baird factory in West Bromwich in the English Midlands.

Stephenson was pulled into head office around the Avonmore-Waterford merger, from which Glanbia was born in 1997. He undertook several roles before becoming finance director of the pig division, which subsequently became Rosderra following a management buyout.

Eight years in the US

In 2004, he moved to the US where he spent four years in Idaho as chief finance officer in Glanbia’s large cheese and whey plants, followed by another four years as chief executive of Southwest Cheese, the Glanbia and Dairy Farmers of America $300m joint venture. This experience will no doubt stand him in good stead as ABP looks to the joint venture with Linden on Slaney if it gets the approval of the competition authorities.

Prior to joining ABP in January last year as chief operations officer, Stephenson had been in a similar role with the performance nutrition division.

Away from the front line of business, he declares an interest in economics and history. Being married with a young family accounts for a large portion of what might be described as leisure time.