The Kerry Group has announced the appointment of Oliver Kelly as president and chief executive officer of its North American operations, effective January 1, 2022. Kelly will replace Gerry Behan, who acted as interim president and chief executive officer and will continue in his broader capacity as president and CEO for Kerry Taste and Nutrition.
Kelly has served in numerous commercial and management roles at the Kerry Group over a period of 30 years, most recently holding the position of commercial chief executive officer for North America. A native of Ballinasloe in County Galway, Ireland, he joined Kerry in 1991 after graduating from University College Dublin with a bachelor’s degree in agricultural science. He moved to North America from Ireland in 2018 after leading Kerry’s strategic growth in the foodservice channel for the Europe region.
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Commenting on the new appointment, Gerry Behan, president and CEO of Taste and Nutrition at Kerry, says, “Throughout his career, Oliver has demonstrated sustainable success in building and leading effective teams that fuel business growth for Kerry and for our customers. Oliver has also shown a clear passion for driving change and a personal commitment to promoting a more inclusive workplace within Kerry. I am looking forward to working with Oliver as we work towards creating a world of sustainable nutrition.”
Founded in 1972, the Kerry Group is headquartered in Tralee, County Kerry, Ireland, and employs over 26,000 people in its manufacturing, sales, and technical centers worldwide. Kerry supplies over 18,000 foods, food ingredients, and flavor products to customers in more than 140 countries worldwide.
