Bettystown man appointed as Bord Bia market specialist in North America
Bord Bia has appointed Daragh Flanagan from Bettystown as the Drinks Market Specialist for North America.
Daragh will work to connect Irish companies with key customers in the market and help support the growth of the Irish brewing and distilling industry. Irish drink exports to the US were valued at €684 million in 2023, representing 40% of the total Irish drink export value.
Alongside Daragh, Bord Bia has also appointed Adam Hannon to the newly created role of Meat and Foodservice Market Specialist. Adam will be responsible for the foodservice channel across all product categories and will support Irish companies seeking to develop their success in the North American market.
These recruitments, who will be based in Bord Bia’s New York office, are part of Bord Bia’s strategy to expand services to Irish companies currently operating in the US and for those wishing to create new routes to market in North America.
Minister Pippa Hackett, who is in Houston, Texas, leading a Government Trade Mission to the US said: “It is great to see an expansion of Team Ireland within the US with the appointment of two experienced market specialists to Bord Bia’s Global Business Development team in North America. Congratulations to both Daragh and Adam on their appointments, both of whom have been instrumental to ensuring the effective delivery of this Trade Mission.”
Daragh joins Bord Bia having completed the Jameson graduate programme, where he was based in Oslo, Norway with responsibility for the promotion of the Jameson Irish whiskey portfolio. More recently, Daragh worked for Diageo Ireland as a luxury spirits executive, responsible for improving the distribution and performance of key brands throughout Ireland.
On the appointments of the new market specialists, Henry Horkan, North America Manager said, “Bord Bia is delighted to welcome both Adam and Daragh to the expanding Global Business Development team. They will act as key players for the drink, foodservice and meat sectors, playing an important role for Irish companies exporting to the US. Last year Irish food and drink exports to the US were valued at €1.5 billion. These appointments come at a pivotal time with Bord Bia expanding new routes to market for Irish companies.”