Westmeath resident appointed global sales director with market- leader Keenan
A Rathconrath man has been appointed Global Sales Director with the EU market-leading firm, Richard Keenan & Co. Ltd., of Borris, Carlow.Niall McGauran has been with the firm for the past ten years, having spent most of that time with Keenan's in the UK, where he rapidly progressed up the career ladder.Mr. McGauran qualified with an Honours B. Agr. Sc from University College Dublin in 1999. He also has a Post Graduate Diploma in International Sales from the Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) & completed an Advanced Development Programme at the Irish Management Institute (IMI).From a beef farming background, prior to joining Keenan as a nutritionist with the Keenan Kepak beef partnership in 2000, Mr. McGauran worked with Dawn Meats. The âKK Clubâ, as it was known, managed 250 Irish farms to produce quality beef to a high specification for Italian consumers on a year-round basis.In 2001 he moved to Britain where he was Area Sales Manager for South West England from 2001-2005. He was âSalesman of the Yearâ in Britain on several occasions. In 2005 he was promoted to Regional Manager for Southern England and in 2006 to UK Market Manager.One of his achievements in Britain was persuading an English Farm Manager (Mr. Guy Coleman of Coombe Farm, Crewekerne ) for several large herds in Somerset to trade in seven auger mixer wagons and upgrade his TMR feeding system by replacing them with seven new Keenan feeders.Using the Keenan System Mr. Coleman improved milk yields, reduced overall running costs and made significant financial gains from those reliable Keenan machines.Mr. McGauran is to be based at Keenan's head office in Borris, where his responsibilities will include developing an international sales force and nutrition service for existing and new markets worldwide.Richard Keenan & Co. are the EU market-leader for an award-winning range of mixer wagons, PACE technology and Mech-fiber⢠nutrition.Ninety per cent of these mixer wagons are exported to 40 countries worldwide. Major markets include Australia, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Scandinavia, USA etc. EU Commissioner Mr. Charles McCreevy opened an â¬8 Million world class R & D and manufacturing site at the Keenan premises in 2007.At present Keenan employ almost 40 Ag graduates worldwide but we need many more for 2011 and in the coming years says Niall. âThe ideal candidates are energetic, enthusiastic, have excellent communications/ interpersonal skills with two to three years work experienceâ.A third level Agri qualification, a good understanding of ruminant nutrition and the TMR system is also essential he said. Trainee managers and nutritionists are mentored by a senior manager and if successful are allocated their own territory in an export market in due course.