Dairy cooperative Lakeland Dairies has announced the appointment of Niall Gallagher as its new chief operating officer (COO).
Gallagher, who will join the processor’s senior leadership team and will report to group chief executive, Colin Kelly, has considerable experience in the dairy industry.
Most recently he served as integrated operations director with the global multinational food ingredients group, IRCA, where he was responsible for the European Sweet Business acquired from Kerry Group in 2023.
He previously held senior operations, strategic and commercial roles at Kerry Group after joining the company in 2010, overseeing UK and Ireland operations across multiple production sites.
Lakeland Dairies
Niall Gallagher joins the co-op at a time when the co-op continues to execute its strategy, ‘Foundations for a Better Future’.
According to Lakeland, the strategy has a clear focus on adding value in every part of the business to maximise the milk price paid to its farm family suppliers as well as delivering dairy products to customers and consumers across the globe.
Lakeland Dairies collects two billion litres of high-quality milk from 3,200 farm families across 17 counties in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The cooperative serves more than 100 global markets with 240 products.
Commenting on the appointment, Lakeland Dairies group CEO Colin Kelly said: “I am delighted to welcome Niall to Lakeland Dairies. He is an excellent strategic appointment for the co-op, marking a significant milestone as we continue on our added-value journey at home and abroad.
“He is a COO with a proven track record of operational, commercial, and strategic delivery both nationally and internationally, and he will be a key part of delivering our ambitious strategy.
“Our clear strategic focus remains on maximising the value of every litre of milk produced by our farmers and ensuring operational efficiencies at all our production sites. Niall is key to delivering on this strategic direction,” Kelly added.
Commenting on his appointment, Niall Gallagher said: “I’m delighted to be joining Lakeland Dairies at such an exciting time for the company as it continues on its added-value journey.
“The dairy industry and the cooperative movement play a huge role in enhancing the lives of people and communities across the country.
“I know Lakeland Dairies is an innovative, progressive and forward-thinking organisation and I am looking forward to working with everyone across the business to deliver on our strategic direction.”
A native of Co. Sligo, Niall Gallagher holds a bachelor of engineering in chemical engineering. He lives in Co. Tyrone with his wife and their two children.
