Former co-op board chair James Doyle had accepted a position to engage with the board on any matter relating to the milk price arbitration process that started during his tenure while board chair.

Doyle lost his seat on the board in a co-op election last November. The milk price arbitration case is separate to the appeals being prepared against the Revenue Commissioners over the taxation of patronage shares.

The Irish Farmers Journal understands the arbitration process was taken in his name. Whether the name can be changed and the process continued under another name has not been confirmed.

James had verbally signalled his intention to step back from the co-op board at previous board meetings, unless certain conditions were met. He was also very close to the proposed appointment of Brian Leslie as chief executive of Kerry Co-op in January. It has since emerged that Leslie will not take up the position.

If Doyle's departure is confirmed, the co-op board will more than likely meet very soon to discuss the ongoing situation.The board needs to appoint at least a board secretary and perhaps continue the recruitment process for a chief executive following Stan McCarthy standing down as chief executive of the co-op and the subsequent failure to agree terms with Brian Leslie.

The Irish Farmers Journal attempted to make contact with James Doyle to confirm reports from several Kerry Co-op sources of the email announcing his departure, but he was not available for comment.

Co-op board changes

Ger Culligan from Clare and Con Murphy from near Rathmore, Co Kerry, have been selected as the two board directors representing the co-op board on the plc board. Both have resigned from the co-op board.

Four new co-op board members were recently elected: Tom Murphy, Conleth McMahon, Sean Brosnan and Denis O'Connor.

The number of co-op board members represented on the plc board was due to fall to just two members as per the agreement when the co-op shareholding was reduced to 13% following the last share spin-out.

Caitriona Murphy and Thomas Hubert contributed reporting for this story.

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