Keane named Dairy UK chairman

The Dairy UK board has confirmed the appointment of Billy Keane as its chairman. Keane had been group finance director and managing director of Robert Wiseman Dairies. He has a practical understanding of working with all parts of the dairy supply chain and a deep awareness of both the challenges and opportunities facing the sector, according to the organisation. “Collaboration remains key within our industry and I will endeavour to ensure that Dairy UK continues to pursue this approach to addressing industry issues,” Keane says. “The Voluntary Code of Practice on milk contracts is giving the industry a platform to build trust and deal with issues in a united manner. This opportunity should be maximised. Innovation is undoubtedly the way forward in my view and the industry needs to do more collaboratively to make the most of the positive underlying trends.”

Keane thanked his predecessor Neil Kennedy, who has left the dairy industry. “I would like to pay tribute to Neil Kennedy, not just for the invaluable leadership that he has provided to this organisation over the last six months, a period that has not been without its challenges, but for his immense contribution from when he first joined the board back in June 2008,” he states.

Keane has held senior positions in a number of businesses, most recently as group finance director and managing director with Robert Wiseman Dairies, where he was involved from 1994 until the recent takeover by Muller Dairies.