The Farm Tractor & Machinery Trade Association (FTMTA) executive council has elected Diarmuid Claridge as president of the association.

The appointment was made at the most recent July council meeting. Diarmuid has served on the FTMTA council since early 2016 and has held the role of vice president since January 2019.

Hailing from south Kilkenny, Diarmuid grew up on a dairy and beef farm where he developed a passion for machinery at a young age. After deciding to pursue a career in the machinery sector, he trained as a mechanic with Murphy’s Motors Ltd based in Glenmore.

Having wanted to further his career in the trade, Diarmuid spent a couple of years working in Australia before returning home to take up a positions with some of the sectors major businesses, including AGCO and Lemken.

These roles saw Diarmuid develop his skills and gain invaluable experience within the industry which later led to his next and current role. In 2017, he was appointed as managing director of Pöttinger Ireland, a subsidiary of Austrian manufacturer Pöttinger Landtechnik GmbH. Pöttinger Ireland officially opened its new Irish headquarters in Clonmel in January of this year.

Looking back on his career to date, Diarmuid said: “The farm machinery industry is an exciting and challenging environment to work within and I would highly recommend it to any school leaver with a passion for machinery.”

I look forward to working closely with the team at the FTMTA

The new president expressed: “The farm machinery industry is facing a difficult and challenging time but it’s important that we focus on the horizon ahead, remain positive and, most importantly, adapt to change. The FTMTA will play a vital role in ensuring that the industry continues to face those challenges and supporting its members throughout Ireland. I look forward to working closely with the team at the FTMTA and my colleagues on the executive council as we look to the future of a progressive and vibrant trade.”