The Irish food promotion agency, Bord Bia, has looked internally for its new chief executive, appointing Mr Aidan Cotter, the agency's director of operations, to the post.

Mr Cotter, who has extensive experience in food marketing here and abroad, replaces Mr Michael Duffy, the first chief executive.

A native of Glanworth, Co Cork, Mr Cotter was educated at St Colman's College, Fermoy and both University College Cork and University College Dublin.

Mr Cotter holds an MBA from Cranfield School of Management in England and has a Masters degree in Economic Science and Agricultural Economics from University College Dublin.

He joined the Irish meat promotions board, CBF, in the early 1980s and was based in Düsseldorf, Germany from 1984 to 1988 before returning to Ireland.

On the formation of the Food Board in 1994, he moved to London as the organisation's European director, where he served until 1998.

He returned to Ireland and was appointed director of operations for the board with its staff of 90 located in seven locations outside Ireland and an annual turnover of €25 million.

The chairman of the board, Mr Philip Lynch, welcomed the appointment last night and said Mr Cotter had significant knowledge and expertise of food and drinks markets gained from his 12 years' experience working in overseas markets.

"Aidan will build further on the organisational strengths of Bord Bia developed over the past 10 years, preparing it for the next stage of development," said Mr Lynch.

Married to Joan, Mr Cotter has three children aged 18, 14 and 12. He lives in Dublin, enjoys athletics and was a competitive runner.