Alltech founder, Dr Pearse Lyons, dies in Kentucky

Alltech has announced the passing today of its founder and president, Dr  Pearse Lyons, in Kentucky, USA, due to an acute lung condition that developed during his recovery from heart surgery. He was 73.

“The thoughts of our entire Alltech family around the world are with Dr Lyons’ family, specifically his wife Deirdre, daughter Aoife, son Mark and Mark’s wife Holly,” said Alric Blake, CEO and treasurer of Alltech.

“Dr Lyons was a visionary entrepreneur who transformed the agriculture industry beginning with his innovative application of yeast technology in animal nutrition. From farm to field, from market to family dinner table, our world is immeasurably better because he was a man who never saw problems, only a challenge that had not yet been solved.

“He inspired everyone he met with his energy, enthusiasm and passionate belief in possibilities. He instilled that positivity in his people, more than 5,000 Alltech team members around the world. I am confident I speak on behalf of all of them when I say that we are deeply honored to have known and worked for such a great man. We will resolve to honor his legacy by deepening our commitment to his customers and all the innovative ideas he believed in so strongly.”

Founded in 1980 by Dundalk native scientist Lyons, Alltech improves the health and performance of people, animals and plants through nutrition and scientific innovation, particularly yeast-based technology, nutrigenomics and algae. Alltech serves customers in more than 120 countries, operates more than 100 core manufacturing facilities strategically positioned across the globe and has three bioscience centres dedicated to research and education, two located in the United States, and one in Dunboyne. Alltech is a leading producer and processor of yeast and organic trace minerals, and its flagship algae production facility in Kentucky, is one of only two of its kind in the world.

To continue driving forward his vision for serving the agriculture industry through field-proven innovations, Dr Lyons established a clear leadership structure, including Dr. Mark Pearse Lyons, Chairman and President; Alric A. Blake, Chief Executive Officer and Treasurer; E. Michael Castle II, Vice President and Secretary.
As the company’ director of corporate image and design,  Deirdre Lyons will continue to further Dr Lyons’ vision for Alltech’s global presence and their shared commitment to philanthropy and community involvement.

 “We are all deeply saddened by my father’s passing,” said Dr. Mark Lyons, Pearse’s son and chairman and president of Alltech. “He always focused on developing people, and he built an extraordinary team over the years. I know he had full confidence in his team to continue growing the company he built.

“He saw farther into the horizon than anyone in the industry, and we, as his team, are committed to delivering on the future he envisioned. He planted seeds that will produce a bountiful harvest for the world in the years to come.”

Dr Lyons’ family are deeply appreciative of the many prayers and well wishes they have received from friends around the world. At this time, they kindly ask that any expressions of sympathy, including memories and tributes, be shared at alltech.com/pearselyons.

In lieu of flowers, the family is encouraging donations to the Alltech ACE Foundation, a 501c3 nonprofit organization that funds a variety of philanthropic endeavours around the world from disaster relief to primary schools in Haiti. Donations may be made at alltech.com/pearselyons.

Funeral Masses will be in Lexington, Kentucky, USA, on March 17 and in Dublin, Ireland, in April. A special celebration of life will be held on May 20 at the beginning of ONE: The Alltech Ideas Conference in Lexington.

Public visitation in Lexington will be on Friday, March 16. Arrangement details will be kept up to date on alltech.com/pearselyons.

The Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine, Michael Creed, has extended his deepest sympathies to the family of Dr Lyons.

He said: “Today the World of innovation has lost a leader and a visionary.  Across many sectors, Dr Lyons proved himself to be a pioneer for new technologies and advanced thinking. My sympathies to his wife Deirdre and their family, as well as his many friends and colleagues who will be deeply impacted by his loss.  Ar dheis de go raibh a anam.”