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Co-op movement gets new President

Monday, July 02 13:58:28

Bertie O'Leary has been elected President of ICOS, the Irish Co-operative Organisation Society and Martin Keane has been elected Vice-President of ICOS, it announced today.

Mr. O'Leary is Chairman and a board member of Dairygold Co-operative Society. Mr. Keane is Vice-Chairman and a board member of Glanbia Co-operative Society.

ICOS represents co-operatives and organisations in Ireland - including the Irish dairy processing co-operatives and livestock marts - whose associated businesses have a combined turnover in the region of E12 billion, with some 150,000 individual members, employing 12,000 people in Ireland, and a further 24,000 people overseas. Irish agricultural exports contribute over E9 billion to the Irish economy each year and the sector accounts for 8pc of national employment.

Bertie O'Leary is from Ballyvourney, west of Macroom, Co. Cork. A dairy farmer who has served on the Dairygold board since 2005, he has served as a Dairygold representative for over 20 years. He was appointed Chairman of Dairygold in January 2012. Mr. O'Leary was most recently Vice-President of ICOS and Chairman of the ICOS Dairy Committee. He is also the current chairman of the Irish Milk Quality Co-operative Society. He is a Dairygold nominee director on the Board of Reox Holdings plc and served as Vice Chairman of Dairygold in 2009 and 2010.

Martin Keane is Vice-Chairman of Glanbia Co-operative Society and is also Vice Chairman of Glanbia plc. He farms at Errill, Portlaoise, Co. Laois and has completed the ICOS Co-operative Leadership Programme. He was appointed to the Board of Glanbia plc in 2006 and has served six full years on the Board to date. Mr. Keane is a member of the Audit Committee and Remuneration Committee of Glanbia plc. He is a former director of Co-operative Animal Health Limited. He is also a director of ICS Europaks and is the current Chairman of Donaghmore Famine Workhouse Museum Co-operative Society.