Chief executive designate for Ireland’s seafood development agency

Tara McCarthy, currently Director of the Food and Beverages division of Bord Bia, has been appointed chief executive of BIM, with effect from September 2015 for a five-year term.

Tara McCarthy, chief executive designate, BIM

A Batchelor of Commerce graduate with an MBS in marketing, Ms McCarthy has been responsible for developing the food export board’s seafood, dairy, prepared foods, alcohol and small business sectors.

As a contributor to government’s Food Harvest 2020 and 2025 reports, Ms McCarthy has delivered key initiatives for Bord Bia and the Irish food industry under the Pathways for Growth programme.

BIM chairman, Kieran Calnan, says Ms McCarthy will do “an outstanding job” for the agency and the wider seafood industry:

“Tara has already demonstrated she has the necessary energy, determination and leadership qualities to drive the development of an industry that is on the cusp of change and has the potential for significant growth.”

A primary focus for Ms McCarthy will be to achive the ambitious targets set out in the agency’s strategy Capturing Ireland’s Share of the Global Seafood Opportunty’, including the target to reach €1bn in seafood sales and 1,200 jobs by 2017.