Tirlán, the Irish dairy cooperative, has named chief ingredients and agribusiness officer Seán Molloy as CEO designate.

Molloy will replace Jim Bergin, who is retiring in July.

The milk and cheese supplier was spun out of Glanbia in 2022 when the Ireland-based dairy and ingredients major sold its remaining 40% stake in Glanbia Ireland to Glanbia Cooperative Society in a €307m ($334.3m) deal.

Tirlán, as Glanbia Ireland and Glanbia Cooperative Society was rebranded, owns brands such as Avonmore milk and Kilmeaden cheese. Since the spin-off, Glanbia has focused on being a global nutrition business.

Molloy joined Glanbia in 2006. He held senior management positions in Glanbia Ireland including director of strategy and supplier relations from 2006 to 2018.

In his current role, he is responsible for revenues of more than €2.5bn, exporting across 100 countries.

On his promotion to CEO, which he takes up on 1 August, Molloy said: “As we navigate the opportunities and challenges ahead in partnership with my 2,300 colleagues, I will focus on what is important to our farm families and customers as we lead an ambitious business into the future.”

Bergin joined what was then Avonmore Co-operative Society in 1984. He became finance director of agribusiness in 1990.

In 2005, he was appointed CEO of Dairy Ingredients Ireland, a role which progressed to heading up Glanbia Ingredients Ireland in 2012 (a joint venture between Glanbia Co-op and Glanbia plc), Glanbia Ireland in 2017 and ultimately becoming CEO of Glanbia Co-operative Society in 2021.

On his departure, he said: “Having commenced my career in a co-op, transitioned to a plc for 34 years and progressed to a co-op again in 2021, [it] has been a wonderful corporate adventure while the organisation created €2bn of additional value for our farm families.

“I would like to wish my colleague Seán every success as he takes the helm later in 2024 and I look forward to working with him on the transition over the coming months.”