BIM hopes Calnan’s business skills will drive fisheries agency forward

South Western Services president Kieran Calnan has been appointed chairman of Bord Iascaigh Mhara, the Irish sea fisheries board.

BIM’s management believes that Mr Calnan’s business experience will be instrumental in driving the agency towards the ambitious expansion targets outlined for Irish seafood in the Government’s Food Harvest 2020 report.

Based in Clonakilty, Co Cork, SWS provides outsource business process services to blue chip clients in the food and drink, media, telecoms, retail, banking, and energy sectors.

Mr Calnan was appointed chief executive in 1996, following 25 years with the company in roles such as business development manager and manager of forestry.

As chief executive, he oversaw the diversification of SWS from a single service provider (agricultural services) to a multi-service company which included renewables, business process outsourcing, forestry and business services. The energy business was subsequently sold to Bord Gáis in 2009 for €500m.

Mr Calnan has also been responsible for driving job creation and revenue to the West Cork region through the development of a state of the art Business and Technology Park culminating in more than 1,000 people employed on the site.

He is a member of the advisory committee of the UCC Ignite programme, an initiative that aims to promote entrepreneurship in the Munster region.

He also played an active role in promoting the award-winning West Cork Fuschia brand — aimed at marketing quality products including seafood from the West Cork area — during its formative years.