The Board of BIM currently comprises six directors, including a Chairperson appointed by the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine. Our Board determines BIM’s programmes in the context of EU and national policies and oversees their implementation.
Aidan Cotter was appointed by the Minister as chairperson of the Seafood Task Force in March 2021, which completed a comprehensive report in October 2021 – Navigating Change, the Report of the Seafood Task Force. The Task Force examined the implications of the EU-UK Trade and Cooperation agreement for the Irish fishing industry and made a series of recommendations, many of which are now being implemented by BIM.
Aidan previously served as CEO of Bord Bia – The Irish Food Board – from 2004 until 2017, having earlier served the organisation in Dusseldorf and London. As CEO, he initiated significant strategic change across the organisation, covering a period which saw the sustained expansion of Ireland’s overall food and drink exports, the extension of its office network eastwards into the Middle East and Asia, and the establishment of its state of the art, globally connected Consumer Insight Centre.
In 2012, he initiated and led the launch of Origin Green, the world’s first national sustainability programme for food and drink, firmly establishing Ireland’s environmental credentials and its international reputation as a world leader in sustainability.
He served as Chairman of Slaney Foods, a joint venture between ABP Foods Group and the Fane Valley Group from 2017 to 2021 and currently Chairs the Plastics Action Alliance. He is a practicing barrister.
Jean Callanan is a marketeer who has held significant international marketing roles including Global Brand Manager for Unilever’s Magnum ice cream. She has more than fifteen years of experience in the food and drink sector, with a proven track record in adding value to food products.
As Founder and CEO of Momenta Hub Jean works with clients in Ireland and Internationally to gain the momentum and energy that come from developing a compelling vision and a clear strategy.
Jean is Chair of the board of Irish Hospice Foundation.
Marie Gleeson is the founder and Managing Director of NavMar Leadership which provides bespoke Leadership Consultancy, Coaching and keynote speaker services. She is also an Associate Consultant with Ingenium Training and Consulting. Marie is a former Senior Officer in the Irish Navy and commanded the LE AOIFE at sea in addition to completing UN service in Chad during her twenty year career.
She has extensive Human Resource Management and leadership experience working with multi-disciplinary teams at all levels. She also has unique maritime experience in crisis management, risk management and mitigation, decision making, and aligning public policy with strategy development and direction.
She is a member of the Board of Youth Work Ireland Tipperary and previously served two terms on the Research Ethics Committee of Our Lady’s Children’s Hospital Crumlin. Marie is a member of the Institute of Directors, the European Mentoring and Coaching Council and a Chartered Member of the CIPD.
George Golden has been involved in the seafood business for over four decades in Co. Mayo. His shellfish company, Carrowholly Shellfish Limited, is based in Westport and was incorporated in 1980. The company deals in a wide range of species including mussels, oysters, winkles, lobsters and clams, with established markets in France, Spain and The Netherlands.
George has strong ties with Mayo GAA, having won an All-Ireland for his county in 1978, as a Minor U21 and was involved in the management of the team in later years.
John Lynch is a lifelong fisherman with over 40 years of experience at sea. He earned his Skipper’s Certificate of Competency in 1996 and has been owner of vessel, the MFV Eblana D 379, since 1997. Throughout his career, John has maintained a strong interest in the management, policy, and regulation of the fishing industry.
John played a key role in the establishment of the Irish South and East Fish Producers Organisation (ISEFPO), serving as Chair for five years before being appointed Chief Executive Officer in January 2021—a position he continues to hold.
Loretto Callaghan is an experienced board director and former CEO of Novartis Ireland Ltd., a global biopharmaceutical company headquartered in Switzerland. She has extensive leadership and governance experience across complex, highly regulated sectors, including biopharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, and healthcare delivery.
Loretto has deep experience and insight in strategic development and execution, stakeholder engagement, quality and risk oversight, and large-scale organisational transformation, and has served on boards across the public, private, and non-profit sectors, including PLC subsidiaries and state-appointed bodies.
A Chartered Director, Loretto holds a Master of Science from Trinity College Dublin and a Bachelor of Science from University College Dublin. She has completed executive education programmes in Healthcare Systems Excellence at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Finance and Leadership at Harvard Business School, and Responsible and Sustainable Finance at the Institute of Banking (IOB).
Loretto is a member of the Institute of Directors in Ireland and serves on the Governance Advisory Council of the Corporate Governance Institute (Ireland).