Ornua is pleased to announce three new appointments to the company’s Board of Directors.
Dermot Farrell joined the Ornua Board in December 2025 as the Lakeland Dairies Co-operative nominee. Dermot previously held the position of General Manager of the Foodservice and Consumer Foods Division with Lakeland Dairies and was also Chair of the Dairy Council for Northern Ireland. Dermot Farrell will succeed outgoing Lakeland Dairies nominee Seán Brady on the Ornua Board.
Tim Healy will join Ornua’s Board in March 2026 as the Dairygold Co-operative Society nominee. During a 37-year career with Dairygold, Tim held a number of executive roles including Chief Operations Officer and General Manager of the Dairy Ireland and Overseas Businesses. He led major strategic projects including Dairygold’s dairy infrastructure expansion programme. Tim will succeed outgoing Dairygold nominee Edmund Lynch on the Ornua Board.
Frank Tobin will join the Ornua Board in June 2026 as the Tirlán Co operative Society nominee. Frank served as Executive Director of Tirlán, where he held the role of Chief Investments and Strategy Officer, following a 46-year career with the co-operative. During this time, he held a number of senior leadership positions, including Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer. Frank will succeed outgoing Tirlán nominee Diarmuid Lally on the Ornua Board.
Each of the new directors brings deep industry expertise and significant leadership and governance experience to the Board, strengthening Ornua’s connection to its Member Co-operatives and the farm family suppliers they each represent.
Kevin Toland, Ornua Chair commented: “On behalf of the Ornua Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome the appointments of Dermot Farrell, Tim Healy, and Frank Tobin to the Board, following respective nominations from our Member Co-operatives Lakeland Dairies, Dairygold, and Tirlán. Their combined leadership experience, sectoral knowledge, and fresh perspectives will be hugely important as we continue to strengthen the company’s strategic oversight and long-term vision of driving value for Irish dairy farmers during a complex period for the global and domestic dairy sectors. I also wish to sincerely thank outgoing Board Directors, Seán Brady, Edmund Lynch, and Diarmuid Lally for their invaluable contributions to the Ornua Board over the past number of years.”