Carbery Group's new chief executive

WEST Cork’s Carbery Group has announced the appointment of Jason Hawkins as its new chief executive and as a director of the company, taking over from Dan MacSweeney when he retires after 25 years as CEO at the end of December.

Originally from Tralee, Co Kerry, Jason is currently chief operating officer with Dairy Farmers of America (DFA), where he holds responsibility for the organisation’s global ingredients business. DFA is a leading milk marketing co-operative and dairy food processor with substantial cheese, ingredients and flavours businesses. 

Prior to joining DFA, Jason had a long and distinguished career with the Kerry Group. He joined Kerry Group’s graduate programme as an accountant in 1999 after graduating with a business degree from the Institute of Technology Tralee. 

The majority of Jason’s Kerry career has been spent in the United States in several leadership positions where he was responsible for the creation of the vision, strategy and overall growth for several of Kerry’s businesses in North America.

Commenting on his new role Mr Hawkins said he was delighted with the opportunity to join Carbery Group and work with the four West Cork supplier co-ops: ‘I have, for a long time, admired Carbery as an organisation and am very much looking forward to further developing the successful business which the excellent team at Carbery Group has built,’ he said.

Chairman of the Carbery Group, Peter Fleming, said: ‘Jason’s background with Kerry’s global ingredients business combined with his experience at Dairy Farmers of America make him very well suited to build on the strong foundations that are in place at Carbery. I am confident that, under his leadership, the business will continue to grow and develop in the years ahead, delivering for the milk suppliers of West Cork.’

Jason (45) is married to Mary and they have three boys, Ronan, Cathal and Killian. He and his family are currently living in Kansas City, but will be relocating to West Cork as he assumes his new role as chief executive at Carbery in the new year.