Remembering Dan Browne

The UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science wish to sympathise with the family, friends and colleagues of Dan Browne, a leader in the area of agri-food business and leadership, who has died aged 88.

Dan graduated from UCD in 1959 with a Bachelor of Agricultural Science and joined An Foras Talúntais (AFT), now Teagasc, as one of the first scientists recruited to the Moorepark site where a world-class dairy research centre developed. In 1974 he joined the meat industry, and in 1980, with Peter and John Queally, he founded the meat processor Dawn Meats in Waterford where he remained Managing Director for 27 years until his son Naill took over in 2007. The current company employ over 8000 people in 12 countries, with 24 sites in Ireland and the UK, processing 1 million cattle and 3.5 million sheep annually with a €2.5 billion turnover.

Dan’s recognition included being Chair of the Board of Teagasc from 1993 to1998, Chair of the board of An Bord Bia from 2008 to 2011, and Chair of Waterford Airport since 2010. He was conferred with an honorary doctorate from UCD in 2011 for his extensive contribution to the agri-food sector in Ireland. Leadership was always something that he championed. From launching the Bord Bia Marketing Fellowships with the UCD Michael Smurfit Graduate Business School, he started a Leadership Programme for Dawn Managers over 20 years ago.  For the past 10 years the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science is proud to have partnered with Dawn Meats to deliver the Manager Development Programme to continue this tradition of professional development with high potential managers in the company. To date over 140 managers have undertaken the Manager Development Programme in UCD. Dan’s vision was to leverage the knowledge and expertise within the company, and sector, to upskill and develop the next generation of leaders for senior roles within the expanding business. Dan’s son, Niall Browne, as CEO of Dawn Meats, continues his legacy, and in 2023 the inaugural Dan Browne Professional Management Development Award, was presented to the winning UCD project team.

Our condolences to Dan’s wife Kay, Niall and the Browne family on the loss of Dan.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam.