Blake, who has previously served as executive director for Ireland, Europe & strategic sourcing, is stepping into a pivotal role at Ornua.
Beginning in March, he will direct Ornua’s own label business within the UK while also propelling the expansion of the flagship brands Kerrygold and Pilgrims Choice, the latter being its premier cheese offering.
In this capacity, Blake will spearhead initiatives to foster the continued growth of the Kerrygold brand, not just in Ireland, but across other strategic European markets as well.
Ornua emphasizes that Blake’s extensive background equips him with the vital expertise needed for this position, having undertaken various senior leadership roles since he joined the organization in 2013.
His experience encompasses internal audit, finance, and general management across diverse international landscapes including the US, Ireland, and Germany, all vital regions in current food manufacturing trends.
César França, chief commercial officer at Ornua, remarked on the appointment: “Patrick is a highly respected leader within Ornua with extensive understanding of our business, our customers and our co-operative roots.”
“He has consistently demonstrated commercial leadership and strategic capability across multiple markets including the US, Germany and Ireland. I am delighted to appoint Patrick to this role and look forward to working closely with him as we continue to grow Ornua Foods UK & Europe.”
Blake’s appointment follows Simon Ball’s decision to resign as managing director of Ornua Foods UK & Europe to pursue a new external opportunity.
Recently, Blake held the position of managing director of Ornua Foods International and was instrumental in overseeing “significant growth” of the Kerrygold brand, which is crucial in today’s competitive food and drink market landscape.
