News that Stephen Blewitt, the general manager of dairy at Aurivo, is to leave the co-op is seen by some as a big blow to the co-op movement in the west.

Regarded as efficient, practical and a steady pair of hands, he was viewed as a potential successor to Donal Tierney, who’s leaving at the end of next month.

However, it looks like Blewitt had his eyes on a different prize and a career in Mayo County Council now beckons for the Ballina man.

But what now for Aurivo? Incoming CEO JP McGrath’s only experience of a dairy co-op was the six months he spent in Dairygold, before leaving in a hurry last November.

He’ll have to get his own head around the Aurivo business and at the same time look at reorganising the roles or getting a new dairy manager.

Of course, bubbling away in the background is the thwarted merger with Dale Farm, which hit the rocks last March.

Outgoing CEO Donal Tierney was in favour of the merger, but it was always suspected that privately, Blewitt was against it.

The Dealer wonders if Nick Whelan will send someone down from Belfast to replace Blewitt in Aurivo?