John Kealy from Ballylinan in Co Laois has been appointed CEO designate of Centenary Thurles in Co Tipperary.

Hailing from a mixed farming background, Kealy has spent the last 16 years with Tirlán. He was appointed head of agri operations at Tirlán in January 2024, before that he was over procurement, grains and joint venture.

The Laois man will commence his role in April, taking over from current CEO Joe Kerrigan who is understood to be finishing in November 2026.

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"I'm very excited to be taking on CEO responsibilities at such a successful company," he told the Irish Farmers Journal.

Kealy said that the co-op had no plans to close any branches.

"The future is about development and evolution," he said.

Centenary Thurles was founded in 1898 and is a farmer-owned co-operative society.

It has eight farm stores across Tipperary as well as home and garden at its Cashel, Littleton, Roscrea, Templemore and Thurles stores.