Dairygold appoints Kilkenny native to its board
Karen Sugrue Hennessy, the newly appointed independent non-executive director of Dairygold.
Karen Sugrue Hennessy has been appointed as an independent non-executive director by Dairygold.
Ms Sugrue Hennessy will hold her position on the Dairygold Co-Operative Society board of directors from January 1, 2026.
Raised on a dairy farm in Co Kilkenny, Ms Sugrue Hennessy has a lifelong connection to Irish agriculture and co-operative enterprise.
A chartered accountant by profession and chartered director, Ms Sugrue Hennessy brings more than 25 years’ experience in governance, finance, and strategic leadership and holds an MBA from UCD.
She is currently chief executive of the sustainable agri-tech business, Real Leaf Farm (Ireland) Limited, and a former chief executive of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.
Welcoming the appointment, Dairygold chairperson, Pat Clancy, said: “Karen brings a wealth of board and executive experience, particularly in the nutritionals and agri-food sectors. Her strong financial acumen, commercial insight and governance experience will be of significant value to Dairygold, as we continue to build on our growth in dairy ingredients and nutritionals.”
Earlier in her career, Ms Sugrue Hennessy worked for 10 years as head of corporate development with Glanbia Nutritionals. She is also vice-chairperson of the board of Tourism Ireland and a non-executive director of the board of Waterford Port, and chair of the audit and risk committees in both of those organisations.
Ms Sugrue Hennessy will step into the role following the scheduled retirement of her predecessor, Annette Flynn, on December 31 of this year, following Ms Flynn’s service of the maximum tenure of 10 years.
