Glanbia has appointed Hugh McGuire as its new CEO, after Siobhán Talbot notified the Glanbia plc board that she intended to retire following ten years as group managing director of the company. Talbot will retire on December 31, and will retire from the group shortly after.
 
McGuire, who has worked at Glanbia for 20 years, will be appointed CEO of Glanbia plc and join the board as an executive director effective on January 1, 2024. He had held a range of leadership roles in the company, initially with the ingredients division as CEO of Glanbia Customized Solutions where he led the development of a global vitamin and mineral premix business with both organic development and mergers/acquisitions. In 2008, he was appointed CEO of Glanbia’s performance nutrition business (GPN).
 
During his tenure, GPN grew from annual revenues of $185 million to $1.7 billion in 2022, and its flagship brand Optimum Nutirtion has grown by 16% annually to become Glanbia’s first billion-dollar brand earlier this year. McGuire has been a member of the Group’s Operating Executive since 2013 and served on the Board from 1 June 2013 until April 2019.
 
Prior to joining Glanbia, McGuire worked for McKinsey & Company as a consultant across a range of industry sectors and prior to this in marketing and commercial roles with Nestle and Leaf. He holds an M.Sc. in Food Science from University College Dublin and has a Diploma in Accounting and Finance from the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants Ireland.
 
“I am honored and delighted to have been appointed as the next CEO of Glanbia, an organization I have been proud to serve over the last 20 years,” said McGuire. “It is a business and a sector that is closely aligned to my own passions and values and I’ve been privileged to be part of its transformation journey. Siobhán leaves Glanbia in a very strong position for future growth and I’d like to sincerely thank her for all her support over the years.”
 
McGuire said in a statement that his focus will be to build upon the foundations of its nutritional ingredients, brands, and businesses, serving exciting categories in health and wellness, and providing consumers and customers with support in nutritional goals. “We have really talented people and a strong values-led culture,” McGuire said. “I look forward to working with my colleagues globally to capture the growth opportunities ahead, to sustainably create shareholder value and achieve our full potential as a better nutrition business.”
 
“On behalf of the board I would like to express our deep gratitude to Siobhán for her leadership and contribution to Glanbia over the past ten years as group managing director,” said Donard Gaynor, chairman of Glanbia plc. “A deeply principled and values driven leader, Siobhán has provided outstanding strategic direction to Glanbia, reshaping the business and its culture to become a clear leader in the world of better nutrition. She led the creation of a focused business which is aligned to growing consumer trends with clear purpose and values, a strong balance sheet and continued ambition for growth which are all key parts of her distinguished legacy.
 
“The CEO appointment was the conclusion of an extensive selection process led by the board’s nomination and governance committee with the support of an executive search firm […] Hugh has led the growth and evolution of [Glanbia Performance Nutrition] with unrelenting focus to become a global leader and a key earnings generator. He combines a passion for our business and our served markets with entrepreneurial flair and a growth mindset. I have known Hugh since I have joined the board and I know that he is committed to Glanbia’s success and is the ideal leader to take us through to the next phase of our growth and evolution.”
 
“It has been my great privilege to lead Glanbia over the past ten years. I am very proud of how the organisation has evolved, grown and strengthened over this period. It is well positioned for the next phase of growth with great people, culture and capabilities. I want to thank my leadership team and all my colleagues right across the Group for their hard work and commitment to Glanbia and their personal friendship,” said Talbot. “I would like to wish Hugh well as he takes the helm in 2024 and I look forward to working with him on the leadership transition over the coming months. I know how passionate and committed to Glanbia he is and I have no doubt he will drive the group forward in pursuit of its strategic focus on better nutrition.”
 
Under Talbot’s leadership, Glanbia become more globally-focused, and focused toward growing and higher-margin consumer brand and ingredient markets worldwide, especially through a focus in performance nutrition with Optimum Nutrition, on proteins and customized premix solutions through Glanbia Nutritionals, and more.