Lakeland Dairies Appoints New Chief Operating Officer
Ireland’s prominent dairy co-operative, Lakeland Dairies, has announced a significant appointment within its senior leadership team. Niall Gallagher has been named as the new Chief Operating Officer, reporting directly to Group CEO Colin Kelly.
The co-operative, known for collecting two billion litres of milk from 3,200 farm families across Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, distributes an extensive range of over 240 products to more than 100 global markets.
Mr. Gallagher joins Lakeland Dairies with a robust background in the dairy industry, having most recently held the position of Integrated Operations Director at the global multinational food ingredients group IRCA. In this role, he was responsible for the European sweet business acquired from Kerry Group in 2023.
Before joining IRCA, Gallagher built his career at Kerry Group from 2010, undertaking various senior operations, strategic, and commercial roles, while overseeing operations across multiple production sites in the UK and Ireland.
Colin Kelly, CEO of Lakeland Dairies, expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment, stating: "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. Niall 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."
Niall Gallagher commented on his new role, saying: "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 co-operative 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."
Originally from County Sligo, Niall Gallagher holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Chemical Engineering and currently resides in County Tyrone with his wife and two children.
