Former secretary general at the Department of Agriculture Tom Moran has been appointed to the board of Elivia, France's second-largest beef processor, as a nominee of Dawn Meats, which recently acquired a 49 per cent stake in the firm.

Mr Moran, who served 10 years as secretary general, is familiar with French agriculture having also served as Ireland's agricultural attaché to France between 1989 and 1992. In May, he was made an officer of the Ordre du Mérite Agricole by France's agriculture ministry in recognition of his role in promoting a positive relationship between France and Ireland in the agriculture and food sector.

Dawn Meats won EU competition approval for its acquisition of the stake in Elivia. The deal includes an option for the Waterford-based company to increase its stake in Elivia, which has a €1 billion turnover, to 70 per cent by 2019.