Patten to step back from Glanbia frontline

What an extraordinary career Michael Patten has had, having worked in the agri-food-related industry for nearly four decades.
He started his public relations career in Sheedy Communications working with one of his early mentors, Larry Sheedy. Stints with Fleishman Hilliard Saunders and Waterford Foods followed, before the Avonmore/Waterford merger created Glanbia, with Michael taking on a senior corporate affairs role in the new company. Michael moved to Diageo in 2003 before returning to Glanbia 10 years later to take on roles as head of human relations and corporate affairs. Highly regarded in the industry, Michael played a major role in developing Glanbia into the multinational business it is today. Far from retiring, however, Michael will remain with Glanbia as an advisor as well as continuing his varied work with other organisations and charities through non-executive board roles. The Patten family is steeped in public relations, with Michael’s father, Owen having worked for many years in PR, and as a political adviser to the late Taoiseach, Charles Haughey. We wish Michael, Nina and the family well.