North Cork Creameries CEO Pat Sheahan to step down
Pat Sheahan has served at North Cork Creameries since 2013. Picture: Michael O'Sullivan /OSM
North Cork Creameries’s CEO is to step down at the end of the year, it has been announced.
Pat Sheahan had served at the company since 2013. North Cork Creameries employs around 100 people locally and has 250 family farm milk suppliers.
In a statement published on the website Agriland.ie, North Cork Creameries board chairperson Thomas O'Donoghue said: “On behalf of the board, I sincerely thank Pat Sheahan for this tireless contribution, personnel commitment and dedicated service to North Cork Creameries.
"He has led our organisation and operation with energy and integrity and has made very significant progress in modernising and developing our facilities and in growing our business in support of our farm families.” Mr Sheahan said: "It has been a privilege to serve as CEO of North Cork Creameries.
“Our farmer members and employees are the heart of this organisation.”
Mr Sheahan has also served as chair of Dairy Industry Ireland, the Ibec group representing the dairy and specialised nutrition processing sector, where he was appointed in 2023.
The new interim CEO has been named as Bord Bia board member Michael Cronin, who is a former CEO of the neighbouring Newmarket Co-operative.
Mr O'Donoghue added: "We are pleased Michael has agreed to step into the role of interim CEO during this transition period.
"The board will now commence a formal process to appoint a new CEO over the coming months. Our focus remains on performance, sustainability and supporting our farming families and customers."
In recent weeks there was controversy surrounding the creamery after Environmental Protection Agency inspectors found it had breached its industrial emissions licence.
