Bord Bia has appointed Jim O’Toole as its new CEO following the resignation of Tara McCarthy in March.
O’Toole will take over the role at the semi-state agency responsible for the promotion, trade development and marketing of Irish food, drink and horticulture on 1 November.
He is currently CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s Seafood Development Agency, and has experience in global food marketing, sustainability development and change leadership.
“I am deeply honoured to be appointed as Bord Bia’s CEO and I look forward to working with the board and the talented team in Bord Bia to implement the recently published strategy,” said O’Toole. “I have been most fortunate to have previously spent over 20 years in Bord Bia and more recently have had the privilege of being the CEO of Bord Iascaigh Mhara for over five years.
“I sincerely wish my BIM colleagues the best for the future and look forward to continuing the close collaboration between the two agencies.”
O’Toole brought “considerable experience in the agrifood sector, depth of international experience and strong corporate, strategic and operational expertise” which “makes him an ideal leader to deliver strategic transformation, building on the great work of his predecessors and the rest of the Bord Bia team,” said Dan MacSweeney, chairman of Bord Bia.
Irish ministers of state have welcomed the appointment with confidence that O’Toole’s “experience will be invaluable” according to Martin Heydon TD.
Charlie McConalogue TD, minister for agriculture, food and the marine, added that it was “a very exciting time for our agri-food industry and Jim will lead a very talented team during one of the most defining periods for our sector”.
McCarthy is stepping down after five years in the role to move into the private sector. She helped steer Bord Bia through Brexit negotiations and was thanked for her “dedication and commitment” to the sector by MacSweeney.
O’Toole will take over from interim CEO Michael Murphy who, according to MacSweeney, had “ensured the continued successful delivery of our new and exciting strategy, while navigating the key issues currently facing the industry and the organisation”.
Murphy will return to his position as director of organisation and industry talent after O’Toole takes up the CEO role.
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