Tara McCarthy is Global VP of ESG at Alltech having joined the organisation in 2022.
She had previously operated as the Chief Executive of Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board since 2017 and brings with her over 25 years’ experience in the wider food industry. She was formerly Chief Executive for Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Ireland’s seafood development agency and has lived and operated in overseas markets such as Germany, France and Belgium for over 10 years.
- Tara’s hallmarks are her unwavering belief in people and her passion for the opportunities to be found within sustainably produced food. She has led capability initiatives for students, early career executives and entrepreneurs within the food industry for over a decade with successful partnerships formed both nationally and internationally. In 2019 she co-founded Agdif an industry initiative championing diversity in the Irish food industry. She has represented Ireland’s food industry globally speaking of Origin Green, Irelands unique national sustainability programme and in 2021 led the establishment of the Origin Green Global Council.
- Tara holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from UCG with an MBS in Marketing from Smurfit Business School, and is an affiliate of IMD Business School, Switzerland. Tara has been recognised with a number of awards including UCG Alumna of the Year for Business and Commerce in 2017, Fellowship of the Marketing Institute of Ireland and Top 25 Irelands Most Powerful Women – Public Sector Leaders Award in 2018 and the 2019 UCD Smurfit School ‘Alumna of the Year’
Tara lives in Dublin with her husband Didier and three children.