Dairy co-operative Ornua has appointed Shane Henry as managing director of Ornua Dairy Ingredients, its newly established global business unit within the Ornua Group.

Ornua said Henry will be responsible for the development of strong, sustainable and profitable routes to market for Irish dairy products produced by Ornua’s Member Co-operatives.

He will lead the development and implementation of Ornua’s route-to-market commercial strategy, aiming to strengthen alignment with Member Co-operatives and drive the global performance of Ornua’s Dairy Ingredients businesses, while also servicing key international customers across Europe, the UK, US, and MEA, and the wider Ornua Group. 

Henry reportedly brings a “wealth of senior level experience” to the role from more than 25 years working in several management and business transformation and implementation roles at Ornua. Most recently, he was managing director of Ornua’s Route-to-Market and Member Relations team. In his new role, Henry will report directly to Ornua chief executive Conor Galvin. 

Ornua has also appointed Seán McHugh as head of Global Manufacturing and Operational Excellence. 

Welcoming the new appointments, Conor Galvin, Ornua chief executive officer said: “The introduction of a more focused and agile global operating model is key to the delivery of our new and ambitious five-year growth strategy, which will drive value for Ornua’s Member Co-operatives and Irish farming families, while serving the needs of our customers across the globe.

“As part of these changes, I’d like to congratulate Shane Henry and Seán McHugh on their appointments to two newly created senior leadership positions. Both bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their important new roles having held a range of senior level management positions within Ornua over some 25 years.”