Laurence P Goodman, the son of Larry Goodman, has been announced by ABP Food Group as the company’s new chair.

The appointee has been a company director since 2021 and ABP has said that the transition was planned.

Goodman succeeds John Moloney as chair, as the latter concluded a five-year term at the helm of the company’s board.

ABP acknowledged the “service, direction and leadership” of Moloney during his term as chair, stating that he will now join a broader supervisory board.

It also said that the incoming Goodman has been an “active member of the board and has extensive prior experience in the company at plant and divisional level”.

Remaining on as non-executive board members are Fergal O’Dwyer, Tom Kirwan, Finbarr McDonnell, Sharon Whitehead and Chris Martin, while chief executive Frank Stephenson, chief financial officer John Tuite and secretary Aaron O’Neill continue their positions as executive board members.

ABP Food Group and its affiliates is the largest beef processor across Ireland and the UK, with a footprint on the continent also.

It operates Olleco as a renewable division and C&D as its pet food wing.

The company employs over 14,000 people and has over 50 manufacturing plants operating across nine countries.