Dairy giant Ornua appoints new chief executive

Galvin currently works as the chief executive of Dairygold Co-operative Society and will take on his new role in May 2024.

Having joined Dairygold in 2014, Galvin has held a number of different positions within the business and its senior leadership team. He stepped up to the role of chief executive in January 2022.

Prior to this stop off in his career, Galvin served as the finance director of DCC’s food and beverage division and was also country finance manager with Procter & Gamble in Ireland.

Originally from a farming background in County Westmeath, Galvin is a science graduate from University College Dublin who holds an MBA from the Smurfit Business School. He is also a qualified accountant.

Donal Buggy has been serving as the Ornua interim chief executive since September 2023 and will leave that role to make way for Galvin in May, returning to his position as group chief financial officer.

'Appointment follows a comprehensive selection process'

Commenting on the announcement, Ornua chair Aidan O’Driscoll thanked Buggy for his “tireless commitment to the business” ​that proved “vital during this transition period​”, before expressing delight at the new appointment.

“He will lead the group as it continues to deliver value for its member co-operatives and the 14,000 dairy farming families that supply them​,” continued O’Driscoll.

“His appointment follows a comprehensive selection process led by a board subcommittee. Conor has a deep knowledge of the dairy sector and has extensive senior executive experience. He is deeply committed to the co-operative nature of the dairy business and has a strong focus on working in close partnership with key stakeholders.  My fellow board directors and I look forward to working with Conor as Ornua continues its journey of delivering long-term sustainable growth.”​

Meanwhile, Galvin said that he was “honoured and excited​” to have be offered the “opportunity to lead Ornua into the future​”.

“For decades, Ornua has delivered significant value for Irish dairy families through the strong connection that it creates between farmers and consumers​,” he added.

“I will encourage collaboration at all levels within the industry to positively address the challenges that face the sector in the years ahead. Ornua has demonstrated a long-term vision of growth and investment, and I look forward to leading the next phase of that development.”​

In other news, workers at two warehouses supplying the supermarket chain Iceland have secured a pay rise after multiple strikes​​.