Ornua has appointed Anne McFarland and Anne O’Leary to its board as independent non-executive directors.

Ornua owns the Kerrygold brand and exports Irish dairy products worldwide.

Anne McFarland is a chartered accountant with 40 years’ experience in finance, international business and governance.

Currently running her own finance and governance consultancy, McFarland’s career has included senior finance roles and directorships with private and listed firms across multiple international markets.

Anne McFarland Ornua non-executive director

Most recently she was an independent director for Botswana Diamonds PLC, an AIM-listed exploration company, and held senior executive financial positions in Glencore, a global producer and trader in natural commodities, and Segezha Packaging, a multinational manufacturer of packaging for the building and food industries, both based in Moscow.

Audit partner

Anne O’Leary is a chartered certified accountant with over 40-years’ experience. Most recently, she was a senior audit partner with Ernst & Young where she advised a range of international clients across a wide range of sectors. As audit partner and adviser, Anne worked with an Irish dairy processing company for over 10 years, gaining in-depth knowledge of the Irish dairy industry and international dairy markets.

Anne O'Leary Ornua non-executive director

She has extensive experience in financial analysis and financial reporting, having advised on acquisitions, divestments, restructuring and debt refinancing.

New governance structure

Announcing the appointments, Ornua chair Denis Cregan said: “These key board appointments cement the new governance structure we started to implement last year to underpin the delivery of Ornua’s ambitious expansion plans.

“I welcome Anne McFarland and Anne O’Leary to the Ornua board and look forward to benefiting from their wealth of Irish and international business experience as we support the Ornua executive team in delivering its ambitious growth strategy.”

John Jordan, chief executive of Ornua, said the appointments represent an important step in the strengthening of Ornua’s board.

Ornua board

The appointment of two independent non-executive directors represents the final step in the implementation of Ornua’s new governance structure.

The Ornua board now consists of eight appointees from member suppliers on a non-conflicted basis; three independent non-executive directors; an appointee from each of the IFA, ICMSA, and ICOS; and two Ornua executives.