Liam Herlihy has been appointed to the board of FBD holdings plc. The former Glanbia chairman will join the board of the troubled insurance broker as a non-executive director with immediate effect. His successful tenure as chair of Ireland’s largest dairy processor makes him a good fit for the role. Glanbia, like FBD, has a farmer co-op as its’ main shareholder- Herlihy chaired both Glanbia co-op and plc.

FBD will hope that markets will respond positively to the appointment. Glanbia’s share price has grown stongly over the last five years in particular.

Liam Herlihy is a dairy farmer from Waterford. He joined the Glanbia board in 1997, becoming chairman in 2008. In his seven years at the helm, Glanbia underwent significant structural change, with the co-op relinquishing its’ majority shareholding in the plc, and embarking on a joint venture to run the i9rish dairy processing business and build Belview.

FBD Chairman Michael Berkery welcomed Herlihy to the board. “I look forward greatly to his insights and contribution to the board and to the Group as, together with management and our people, we steer the Group back on the path to profitability. This appointment is clear evidence of our ongoing commitment to strengthening the board, something we have been advancing for some time.”