John Jordan, the CEO of Irish dairy cooperative Ornua, has announced his departure from the company. He will be taking on the position of chief operating officer at an undisclosed US-based private-equity firm.
Ornua, headquartered in Dublin with separate food and ingredients divisions, has initiated the search for a new CEO. In the interim, CFO Donal Buggy will assume the role of interim chief executive.
During his five-year tenure as Ornua CEO, Jordan played a pivotal role in the success of the company, which produces renowned brands such as Pilgrim’s Choice, Dubliner cheeses, and the flagship Kerrygold butter brand. Prior to his CEO position, Jordan held various executive roles within the organization.
Ornua, which sources its dairy from 14,000 Irish farmers, is renowned for its extensive global reach, exporting to 110 countries. In 2022, the company reported a turnover of €3.40bn ($3.67bn), marking an impressive 36.7% growth from the previous year.
Reflecting on Jordan’s departure, Ornua Chair Aidan O’Driscoll expressed his appreciation for Jordan’s decades of dedication to the company, stating, “John has given a huge part of his professional life to Ornua, as he joined us approximately 30 years ago. It has been a privilege to work with him.”
O’Driscoll went on to praise the appointment of Donal Buggy as interim CEO, highlighting his longstanding role as CFO at Ornua since 2013 and his respected position among staff, customers, and industry peers.
In his farewell statement, Jordan expressed his gratitude in serving as Ornua’s chief executive, emphasizing his confidence in the company’s future success. “I am confident that Ornua will go from strength to strength. We have great brands and a brilliant team,” he said.
