In a trading update statement, which was released this morning from the group, the board of Kerry Group has appointed Philip Toomey as chair designate of the plc.

He will succeed present chair Michael Dowling, who will retire from the board at the group’s AGM in May 2018. Dowling was appointed chair of the board in 2015 and has served as a director since 1998.

Toomey joined the board in February 2012 and has served as chair of the audit committee since 2013.

He was formerly global chief operating officer for the financial services firm Accenture, and holds a wide range of international consulting experience. He is also a fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland and a board member of UDG Healthcare plc.