FDBusiness.com

Mannok, the building products and packaging manufacturer, has announced the appointment of Dara O’Reilly (pictured centre) as its next CEO. He will succeed Liam McCaffrey (pictured right) who is set to retire as CEO during 2024. Liam McCaffrey will continue to be involved in the business as a non-executive director. Brenda Rennick (pictured left), Mannok’s Finance Director, has been appointed Chief Financial Officer.

Mannok employs over 800 staff and comprises two key divisions – Building Products and Packaging. Its operations straddle north and south of the border in Cavan and Fermanagh and its key activities are the manufacture of cement, concrete, quarry and aggregate products, insulation materials, as well as the manufacturing of packaging products, mainly for the food industry, focused on the Island of Ireland and GB markets.

Liam McCaffrey and Dara O’Reilly have served as CEO and CFO respectively since the establishment of Mannok (then named QIH) in December 2014. Since that time, Mannok has invested over €100 million in the region, turnover has doubled, profitability (EBITDA) has grown more than five-fold and the business has added over 150 jobs.

Adrian Barden, Chairman of Mannok, said: “Liam McCaffrey has been a formidable leader of Mannok over the past nine years, developing and growing the Company into a profitable and well invested business whose people, products and services are widely respected in the industry. We are very pleased to have continuing access to his knowledge and experience in his capacity as a non-executive director.

“As a Board we conducted a succession process for the positions of CEO and CFO and we were delighted to have the requisite talent and experience to promote from within. Dara and Brenda enjoy the respect and trust of their colleagues and of the Board. I wish them well in our next phase of growth as an increasingly sustainability focussed business.”

Thanking colleagues for their support, Liam McCaffrey said: “It has been my privilege to serve as CEO working alongside exceptional colleagues across the business and with a hugely supportive Board. What we have achieved for the business and the region, we have achieved together and I know that will continue under the leadership of Dara, Brenda, Chief Operations Officer Kevin Lunney and the broader senior management team.”

Dara O’Reilly commented: “This is a resilient business with great people and a bright future.  Over the coming years we will continue to source, produce and employ locally but we will also transform our manufacturing processes to become one of the cleanest producers in our industry. Managing that energy transition, whilst continuing to grow the business, will be our key priority for the business over the coming years.”