Spellman is currently chair of the ICOS National Marts Committee and is a former president of the European Association of Livestock Markets (EALM) and a former chair of Roscommon Leader Partnership. From Kilteevan, Co Roscommon, he is a board member of ICOS and of Roscommon Co-operative Livestock Mart.

'Vibrant agri-food sector'

The newly elected president said: “We have an extraordinarily vibrant agri-food sector and farmer-owned and controlled co-operatives play a huge role in underpinning, supporting and driving it."

"Notwithstanding the enormous potential which our industry has, and the ambition we have to grow our exports in line with Food Wise 2025, we face enormous challenges around CAP funding, volatility and compliance with our environmental commitments,” continued Spellman.

Spellman thanked the board for their confidence in him and for their support. He intends to work closely with the executive team and the expert committees, representing dairies, marts and all other co-ops and with ICOS members.

At the same meeting,James O'Donnell was elected vice president. James represents the National Co-operative Farm Relief Services and is a dairy farmer in Golden, Co Tipperary, supplying Dairygold Co-op.

ICOS represents over 130 co-operatives in Ireland, including the Irish dairy processing co-operatives and livestock marts. It's associated businesses have a combined turnover in the region of €14bn, with some 150,000 individual members, employing 12,000 people in Ireland, and a further 24,000 people overseas.

Spellman will take office immediately. He succeeds Martin Keane who was president of ICOS from 2014 until earlier this month when he stepped down following his appointment as chair of Glanbia Co-operative and Glanbia plc.

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