Michael Leahy Appointed as Managing Director Aviagen Australia

AUSTRALIA - Michael Leahy joins Aviagen® Australia and New Zealand as Managing Director and started with the company in June 2015.
calendar icon 25 September 2015
clock icon 3 minute read

He is a graduate in rural science from the University of New England and has over 20 years experience in the poultry industry across a range of responsibilities including farm management, state livestock manager, sales management, national livestock director and a period in cooked food processing.


Michael Leahy

Michael commenced his career with Steggles Foods an emerging poultry company in 1979 at a time of rapid growth and consolidation in the Australian poultry industry. By 1986 Michael became the Livestock Manager in New South Wales and soon after gained responsibility merging the acquisition of Table Talk poultry farming assets and employees into the Steggles’ team. At the same time Michael gained exposure to several international poultry companies including a notable visit to Ross Breeders in Edinburg, Scotland. Later in a national role of Livestock Director he became involved and helped commission the development and start up of the Singleton Quarantine Station dedicated to the importation of poultry breeding stock for the Australian industry.

Michael then spent several years away from the poultry industry before joining Baiada Poultry, one of the leading poultry integrators in Australia as National Livestock Operations Manager. Following the purchase of Bartter Enterprises in 2009 he became responsible for pulling the two livestock businesses together while optimizing cost and performance.

Upon joining Aviagen, Michael will quickly become part of the international business team and will be based in the Aviagen ANZ corporate office at Goulburn in Australia. He has a history of a results and growth driven leadership and will provide a strong focus on quality, cost, efficiency, meeting targets, developing people and achieving customer satisfaction in his new role directing the ANZ team. His familiarity with Ross® broilers and parent stock in Australia will help his early introduction and progress within the company.

“I am pleased to have the opportunity here at Aviagen and see the need to continue to strengthen the business as we move operations from older to better, more modern facilities for production. Investment is continuing with a new hatchery under construction and scheduled for the early part of 2016. Additional team members are planned as we increase customer contact and support in the future. We have a long term commitment of being a growing part of the industry we serve in Australia,” said Michael Leahy, Managing Director, Aviagen ANZ.

“We welcome Michael to Aviagen ANZ and look forward to his experience to help us utilize the new and existing facilities and build a team to fully serve the local poultry industries,” commented Bob Dobbie, President Aviagen International.

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