Citation - Mr. Denis Brosnan (Business)

Denis Brosnan is one of Ireland's leading and most respected business men. He was the founder, chief executive and, until 2003, chairman of Kerry Group Plc. where he was the driving force behind the transformation of Kerry Co-op into a global food and ingredients Group. He has contributed significantly to the development of the South West region, and to Ireland as a whole, through his innovative leadership at Kerry Group. 

Denis grew up just a few miles outside Tralee in Kilflynn.  He graduated from UCC in 1967 with a master's degree in Science.  His first job was with Golden Vale based in Charleville and London. 

In 1972 he returned to Kerry with an idea to build a casein factory in Listowel.  In a caravan just outside the town,, North Kerry Milk Products was set-up which became Kerry Co-op in 1974 and has now grown from a small provincial creamery to one of the world's leading specialist food ingredients producers and distributors.

In the early 1980s, Kerry began branching out from its dairy core and had expanded to include a number of manufacturing and other food processing  facilities such as Dennys , located throughout Ireland and Northern Ireland. Denis then made the big strategic decision to expand in to the USA which was instrumental in ensuring that Kerry became the global player it is today.

With its headquarters in Tralee, Kerry Group now employs over 20,000 people throughout its manufacturing, sales, technology and application centres throughout the world.  Indeed a number of the Instituteâ¿¿s graduates have gained entry into Kerry Groups Graduate Training Programmes.
Denis has also played a leading role in the development of the Irish Horseracing industry and has been key to its global success and recognition globally. His interest in this sector stems from his youth and in addition to operating his own successful thoroughbred stud farm in Croom, Co. Limerick.

Denis is also the chairman of Horse Racing Ireland, the commercial semi-State body that is responsible for the Irish horse racing and the bookmaking industry.  

In addition, Denis also Chairs Barchester Healthcare, which today is the most significant care operator in the UK and is due to open its first Irish facility. 

Another recent development for Denis is that he now chairs the taskforce in Limerick established  by the Tanaiste Mary Coughlan to in the wake of the Dell job losses. The work of this group is ongoing and Denis has been engaged with our partners in the Shannon Consortium - MIC, LIT and UL as part of the activity.

Denis has been awarded with a number of honorary degrees and awards for his outstanding contribution to Irish agriculture and industry.

Denis Brosnan's record of achievement, his tireless contribution to the wider community and his leadership skills that motivate those around him to achieve their potential distinguish him as a worthy recipient of the award of the Honorary Fellowship of the Institute of Technology, Tralee.