In 1998 John Fitzgerald graduated from UCD with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science, where he specialised in animal and crop production.

Fresh from college, he landed a position as a regional development officer with the IFA in Kilkenny.

“I was with them for four years and it was a fantastic experience in working and dealing with farmers and getting to know people within the industry,” says John.

John’s next role was with ACC Bank for five years, where he was largely involved in agri banking. In 2007, he moved to Ulster Bank, where he worked in agriculture and commercial banking. “In 2013, an opportunity came up for an agri manager with Bank of Ireland. I took it and covered the Cork, Waterford and Wexford area. Then in August last year I took on the position of head of agri,” he says.

In his current position, John works with a team of agricultural specialists within the bank. It is their responsibility to work in developing the bank’s strategy for the agri sector, offer services to farming customers and provide technical support to the bank on more complex lending proposals.

“I also do work in the marketing and profiling of Bank of Ireland in the agri sector and around educating and training staff in Bank of Ireland on agricultural matters,” explains John.

John also liaises with external stakeholders such as Teagasc, the IFA, the Department of Agriculture and other agri firms and consultants on a daily basis. With Bank of Ireland providing over 50% of all new lending to the agri sector, John is in constant contact with farmers and says it helps that he himself is from a farm and still helps out on it.

“I grew up on a dairy farm in Modeligo in west Waterford. My brother runs a dairy and beef enterprise on it now,” he says.

“I’ve always had an interest in farming and I still help out on the farm. It is really good to keep in with what is happening on the farm.”

With 254 branches around Ireland and many of these in rural communities, Bank of Ireland always looks for people who have an interest and background in farming when it comes to recruiting employees.

“For us, it is really important that our staff understand farming and we are always looking to recruit people from a farming background,” John explains.

While Bank of Ireland will not directly be recruiting at the Agri Careers Fair, in the past they have employed people with agricultural backgrounds in branches in local communities, as well as business banking, dealing with farmers and non-farming customers also. The company also employs agri specialists.