Appointment of Chair to the Agri-food strategy board

Mr Tony O'Neill was today appointed to the position of Chair to the Agri-food Strategy Board for a term of up to three years which will take effect from 20 February 2012.
~ Friday, 17 February 2012

In making the announcement Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Arlene Foster and Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Michelle O’Neill, said: “Tony O’Neill brings considerable experience of extremely effective leadership, strategic thinking and change management skills that led to the strong growth of both the O’Kane Poultry Business and later Moy Park.

“In addition, his experience as Chair of NIFDA has also provided him with a unique opportunity to develop relationships across the agri-food sector. By bringing his wealth of skills to the post, he will be well placed to develop the existing Focus on Food strategy into a longer term vision for the sector with industry determined goals and targets.

“The agri-food sector has been recognised in the recent draft Economic Strategy as a sector with great potential for growth and the new Chair and members of the Agri-food Strategy Board will play a key role in ensuring we maximise the potential of the sector in the years ahead.”

The final stage in the establishment of the Board is to appoint the members of the Agri-food Strategy Board. Advertisements will shortly be placed in the press to seek nominations for these important positions.

Paying tribute to the outgoing Chairman of the Food Industry Advisory Panel (IAP), Trevor Lockhart, and the other members of the IAP, the Ministers said: “Trevor has made a tremendous contribution to the development of the food industry and Food Strategy through the work of the Industry Advisory Panel and with the publication of Focus on Food last year. We wish him every success in the future. We would also like to thank the other members of the Industry Advisory Panel for their service and dedication and wish them all well for the future.”

Notes to editors:

1. Tony O’Neill graduated from the University of Ulster in 1977 with a BSc (Hons) Engineering and took up a position with Davidson and Co., where he remained until 1986. Tony was then employed by a number of high profile companies such as Coopers and Lybrand, Dalgety, Nestle, Premier Foods (Group Operations Director), WD Irwin and Sons (Chief Executive) and Moy Park Limited (Further Processing Director) before taking up the position as Managing Director within the OKP Group in 2005, leading the Group through a period of major restructuring resulting in the Group returning to profit in 2007. Tony is currently Group Business Development Director of Moy Park. Tony is also a Director of The British Poultry Council and is Chairman of the Northern Ireland Poultry Federation, Chairman of Rose Energy, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Food and Drink Association, and Chair of the Future Skills Action Group.

2. The appointment was made in accordance with the spirit of the CPANI Code of Practice. A selection panel, which included an independent panel member, as required under the Commissioner’s Code, considered the suitability of all candidates. The final decision on the appointment rested with the DARD and DETI Ministers.

3. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, the Commissioner for Public Appointments for Northern Ireland requires the political activity of appointees to be published. Mr O’Neill has declared he has undertaken no political activity during the last five years.

4. More information on Focus on Food is available at http://www.dardni.gov.uk/focus_on_food.pdf and http://www.investni.com/focus_on_food_partnership_strategy_food_industry_ northern_ireland_fsg_may-2010.pdf

5. The Programme for Government includes a target to develop a strategy for the agri-food sector. The full Programme for Government can be found at: http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/draft-pfg-2011-2015.pdf

6. Remuneration for the post is up to £30,000 per annum.

7. For media enquiries, please contact DETI Press Office on 028 9052 9604 or DARD Press Office on 028 9052 4619. Outside office hours, please contact the Duty Press Officer via pager number 07699 715 440 and your call will be returned.