Outgoing Lakeland Dairies Chief Corporate Affairs officer Patrick Donohoe is leaving the co-op to take up the role as CEO of Animal Health Ireland. AHI provides the knowledge, education, and coordination necessary for the effective control of non-regulated diseases, including Bovine Viral Diarrhoea (BVD), Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR), and Johne’s Disease. It also leads key critical programmes such as Beef HealthCheck, Pig HealthCheck, Parasite Control, CellCheck, and CalfCare.

Patrick has served in a range of leadership roles in the agriculture sector over the past decade. He will join AHI in July. Prior to Lakeland Dairies, Patrick served as Special Advisor to the former Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, led the merger process of LacPatrick Dairies with Lakeland Dairies, and was News Editor with the Irish Farmers Journal.

Welcoming the appointment, AHI Chairperson James Lynch said: “On behalf of the Board of AHI, I am pleased to welcome Patrick as our new CEO. Patrick brings with him a unique perspective in terms of the commercial and practical aspects of our industry. He has proven himself at the highest levels of government and agri-business, and I am confident that he will be a success in this role. I would like to thank our interim CEO Dr Sean Brady who has been an effective custodian and driver of the AHI business over the last three months and will continue until Patrick’s arrival in July. The success of our industry is built on the bedrock of healthy livestock. To ensure that we retain our competitive edge in an ever-evolving trade landscape, a healthy livestock population is critical, and AHI will continue to play a leadership role in this space.”

Commenting on his appointment, Patrick Donohoe said: “I’m really excited to be appointed the new CEO of AHI and I can’t wait to get started. We are at a critical juncture for our industry, and animal health is pivotal to the continued success of our multi-billion-euro industry. There are hugely talented and committed people in AHI, and I am looking forward to putting cutting-edge research into practice and communicating effectively with farmers, vets and industry on the huge benefits of fostering positive health practices. Our industry, made up of excellent farmers, skilled vets and innovative companies, is the envy of the word and I know AHI can support its further development. I firmly believe that AHI is at the forefront of futureproofing the industry.”