Published: Wednesday, 3rd February, 2010 5:00pm

Drum business leader hails "champion" Lenihan

A Drum native who is CEO of a top food processing multinational company praised the performance of Finance Minister Brian Lenihan yesterday morning (Tuesday).

Owen Killian, CEO of Aryzta - the global leader in speciality bakery owning brands such as Cuisine de France - told members of the Midlands Gateway Chamber that Mr Lenihan should be hailed as a "national champion" for kick-starting the turnaround of our economy.

Mr Killian said that Minister Lenihan's ability to strike confidence in the international markets was an asset to the country and that he is held in a positive light in Europe.

He also mentioned Brian Cowen and praised both men for taking very bold and difficult decisions, which were being admired in corporate circles. Dominic Doheny, President of the Midlands Gateway Chamber, said that Mr Killian gave an "inspiring and genuine presentation" and that members of the chamber were heartened by it.

"Owen gave a realistic view but with a positive end. He's in the thick of it himself, his company is very consumer-orientated," added Mr Doheny.

Although the theme of the breakfast briefing was the future of the food processing industry here, Mr Doheny who is joint-MD of the Flanagan Group in Tullamore, said Killian's speech was "absolutely relevant" to all people doing business.

Mr Killian was selected as the Midlands Gateway Chamber Ambassador of the Year 2009/10 which is why he gave the talk yesterday morning in Tullamore.

He received this honour because of his "vision and entrepreneurial skills" in building a very successful business and of course because of the influence this has on the Midlands as a region," added Mr Doheny.

Killian was appointed CEO of IAWS Group in 2003, having been with the company since 1977. He has held senior executive positions with IAWS Group since its flotation in 1988. He became CEO of Aryzta, which was formed from the merger of IAWS Group in Ireland and Switzerland's Hiestand Holding AG in August 2008.

Aryzta has a turnover of €3.2 billion and employs 900 people in Ireland alone.