Dairygold has appointed board director and business leader, Karen Sugrue Hennessy, as an Independent Non-Executive Director (INED) to the Dairygold Co-Operative Society Board of Directors, effective 1 January 2026.

A Chartered Accountant by profession and Chartered Director, Karen brings more than 25 years’ experience in governance, finance, and strategic leadership.

Raised on a dairy farm in County Kilkenny, Karen has a lifelong connection to Irish agriculture and co-operative enterprise. She is currently Chief Executive of the sustainable agri-tech business, Real Leaf Farm (Ireland) Limited and former Chief Executive of the Design & Crafts Council of Ireland.

Earlier in her career Karen worked for ten years as Head of Corporate Development with Glanbia Nutritionals, a business which grew significantly during that time. 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 & Risk Committees in both of those organisations. She holds an MBA from UCD.

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.”

Karen’s appointment to the Dairygold Board of Directors will follow the scheduled retirement of Annette Flynn at 31st December 2025, who will have served the maximum Board tenure of ten years. Annette is one of two INEDS on Dairygold’s twelve-person board, along with Patrick Gaynor.

Acknowledging Ms. Flynn’s role as an INED on Dairygold’s Board, Dairygold Chairperson, Pat Clancy, said: “Annette has been an excellent independent director who has made a very strong contribution to the Board during her ten-year tenure, providing leadership and strategic insight with unwavering commitment. In addition, Annette, as chairperson of the Audit and Risk Committee during her tenure has provided strong financial oversight expertise and risk management guidance. On behalf of the Society, I would like to thank Annette and wish her continued success in the future.”