Diageo has announced the appointment of Barry O’Sullivan as its new managing director for Ireland.
He will succeed Oliver Loomes and will report to John Kennedy, president, Diageo Europe and India, in his new role.
O’Sullivan will join Diageo Ireland on 19 April 2021, allowing for a transition period prior to Loomes’s departure, at the end of the financial year.
O’Sullivan joins Diageo from Mars Petcare, where he led the Australia and New Zealand business.
He previously held the position of general manager for Mars Chocolate and was based in Mexico.
He also worked as the general manager for the Middle East, Turkey and Africa at Mars Incorporated.
Loomes Steps Down
After more than 21 years with the company, Loomes is stepping down as managing director of Diageo Ireland and will be leaving the business at the end of June as he looks to pursue the next chapter in his career, the drinks giant said.
Loomes has served as a country director and then managing director for Ireland since 2015.
Under his’s stewardship the Ireland business has enjoyed a period of growth with the launch of new products and innovations such as the Rockshore brand, one of the fastest growing beer brands in Ireland in decades, the company said.
More recently during the pandemic, Loomes’ external leadership as chair of Drinks Ireland has been vital to steering the sector through an enormously challenging period, it added.
“On behalf of Diageo, I would like to thank Ollie [Loomes] for the significant contribution he has made to Diageo and for the legacy that he leaves behind, not just in Ireland but in many countries around the world," said John Kennedy, president, Diageo Europe and India.
"He has made a substantial impact on the business, both on a professional and a personal level, and I wish him all the best for the future. I would also like to congratulate Barry [O'Sullivan] on his appointment and welcome him to the Ireland business in his new role. I am excited about the experience that Barry brings to the role and look forward to what he will achieve for Ireland," he added.
According to Diageo, the transition between Ollie and Barry will take place up until the end of June 2021.
© 2021 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Article by Donna Ahern. Click sign up to subscribe to Checkout.
