Dr Pearse Lyons adds RDS gold medal to his haul of awards
A native of Dundalk, Co Louth, and president and founder of Alltech, Dr Lyons has developed the company from a small enterprise, in Kentucky, to a global mega-brand employing 3,000 and conducting business in 128 countries, with annual sales of $1bn.
Alltech markets natural solutions for the animal-feed industry.
Criteria for winning the RDS gold medal include professional excellence, international reputation, exceptional leadership skills, successful business innovation, outstanding business achievement, substantial impact on economic development, and achievements widely recognised by peers.
Dr Lyons earned his bachelor’s degree from UCD, and master’s and doctoral degrees from the University of Birmingham, in England.
He worked as a biochemist at Irish distilleries, before establishing Alltech in 1980.
He has recently returned to distilling, by establishing Alltech’s Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company, in Kentucky. In 2012, Alltech launched Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, in Ireland, and worked with Carlow Brewing Co, to begin distilling Alltech’s first Irish whiskey.
“It’s been an amazing year for Alltech in Ireland. The Gathering provided the perfect platform for us to bring the full range of Alltech events to Ireland, as well as being the ideal time to launch our range of beers and spirits.
“I have spent my entire life building Alltech up to where the company is today and it gives me great pleasure to be able to bring that success home,” said the Irish-born Dr Lyons.
Alltech’s recent Global 500 event brought 760 attendees from 50 countries to Ireland.
More than 4,000 have attended Alltech’s Gathering events this year.
Alltech has also recently opened its newly extended European headquarters at its long-time Irish base in Dunboyne, Co Meath.
Dr Lyons was joined at the official ribbon-cutting by former EU Commissioner, David Byrne, and Dr Deirdre Lyons, co-founder of Alltech.
The expansion is linked to a growing presence in Europe, which has recently become the number-one region for Alltech sales.
