A Clonakilty woman has been named the new chief executive of the Irish seafood development agency, BIM.
A CLONAKILTY woman has been named the new chief executive of the Irish seafood development agency, BIM.
Tara McCarthy is currently the director of the Food and Beverages Division in Bord Bia and has led a team of senior executives on the development of the seafood, dairy, prepared foods, alcohol and small business sectors.
A Bachelor of Commerce graduate with an MBS in Marketing from Smurfit Business School, Tara has operated in overseas markets for over 10 years – including in Germany, France and Belgium. An affiliate of Harvard Business School and IMD Business School in Switzerland, Tara has been a regular contributor to the Government’s Food Harvest 2020 and 2025 reports and delivered a number of instrumental initiatives for Bord Bia and the Irish Food Industry under the ‘Pathways for Growth’ programme.
BIM’s chairman Kieran Calnan said he was delighted that Tara McCarthy was taking up the position. ‘I am confident that Tara will do an outstanding job for BIM 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,’ he said.
Ms McCarthy will take up the position in September and her appointment is for a five-year term. She succeeds Jason Whooley, who was also from West Cork. The Aughadown native was in charge of BIM for the last five years, retiring in 2014.
