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Pearse Lyons

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Lyons in 2012

Thomas Pearse Lyons[1] (3 August 1944 – 8 March 2018) was an Irish businessman and the founder and President of Kentucky-based Alltech Inc., an American animal health and nutrition company that is centred on innovation, research and development.[2] Lyons was considered an "entrepreneur, salesman, marketer and scientist all rolled into one", and was widely regarded in the agribusiness sector as an innovator and industry leader.[2]

Early life and education

Lyons was born and raised in Dundalk, County Louth.[3] He graduated from University College Dublin (UCD) with a first class honours degree in biochemistry.[2] He worked in Harp Lager in Dundalk while at college. Lyons also graduated with a Master of Science in Brewing Science from the British School of Malting and Brewing (now the School of Biochemistry[4]), University of Birmingham in 1968.[5] In 1971 Lyons received a PhD Biochemistry, also from the University of Birmingham.[5] He later started an MBA at UCD, but didn't complete it.[6] He moved to Irish Distillers, which he described as his 'dream job'.[6]

Lyons received an Honorary Doctorate from Heriot-Watt University in 2004.[7]

Alltech

In October 1980, Lyons set up Alltech in his garage, with an initial investment of $10,000.[3][8] Lyons used his fermentation expertise to continue helping brewers,[3] and the business was profitable by Christmas.[6] Within the first year, Alltech did a million dollars' worth of business.[6]

A few years later, Lyons turned his attention to animal feed in the belief that yeasts, enzymes and certain bacteria could help animals use feed more efficiently.[9]

In May 2009, Alltech and the Muhammad Ali Center announced the creation of a joint charitable fund, the Alltech-Muhammad Ali Center Global Education and Charitable Fund.[10]

In 2011, Alltech invested $9.5 million in its Tianjin facility.[11] Alltech was the title sponsor of the 2010 FEI World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, Kentucky.[12][13] Alltech also committed to sponsor the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games™ 2014 in Normandy.[14] In 2011, Alltech opened the Alltech Algae facility, located in Winchester, Ky. and the company is pursuing algae's applications in animal and human nutrition.[15]

In 2012, Alltech was named to a top-10 Best Companies Supporting the Arts in America by the Americans for the Arts. The company received the award for its support of the local arts, its statewide music festival – the Alltech Fortnight Festival – in conjunction with the Games, its annual Alltech Vocal Scholarship Competition and its incorporation of the arts into its Sustainable Haiti Project.[16]

Lyons also established Alltech's Lexington Brewing and Distilling Company, which includes a line of beers and spirits. In 2012, Alltech partnered with Ireland's Carlow Brewing Company to begin distilling its first genuine Irish whiskey.[17]

Pearse Lyons Distillery

The Pearse Lyons Distillery opened in St James' Church on Dublin's James's Street in September 2017.[18][19]

Personal life

Lyons met Deirdre Byrne when he was 17 and they were married in 1972.[8] They had a daughter, Aoife, in 1973 and a son, Mark, in 1977.[8]

In 2012, Lyons’ wealth was estimated to be in the region of €1.5bn[20] and according to the Sunday Times Rich List[21] he was the sixth richest Irish person.

Lyons authored more than 20 books and many research papers for scientific journals.[22]

Lyons was named Business Person of the Year in 2012 by Business and Finance in Ireland.[23] Also in 2012, Lyons received the Ireland-US Council's Award for Outstanding Achievement for strengthening economic ties between the United States and Ireland.[24]

Lyons died on March 8, 2018,[8] after which his son Mark took on the roles of President and chairman at Alltech.[8] His daughter Aoife Lyons, Alltech's director of educational initiatives and engagement, died on April 18, 2019.[25]

References

  1. ^ Name confirmed 20 May 2014, by Lynne Adderton, Alumni and Business Engagement, University of Birmingham
  2. ^ a b c "Who's Who in Irish Business, 2010". Business and Finance. Archived from the original on 23 June 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Dr. Pearse Lyons; A Reflection in the Mirror". Irish Examiner. 5 March 2010.
  4. ^ School name confirmed 20 May 2014, by Lynne Adderton, Alumni and Business Engagement, University of Birmingham
  5. ^ a b Degree confirmed 20 May 2014, by Lynne Adderton, Alumni and Business Engagement, University of Birmingham
  6. ^ a b c d Sweeney, Niamh (5 October 2012). "The Lyons Share Just keeps on growing". The Irish Times.
  7. ^ "HW Minutes 2004" (PDF).
  8. ^ a b c d e Eblen, Tom (8 March 2018). "Pearse Lyons, who built a $3 billion company and brought the world to Kentucky, dies". Lexington Herald Leader.
  9. ^ "Dundalk Democrat". Dundalk Democrat. 16 March 2012.
  10. ^ Bertram, Charles (19 May 2009). "Muhammad Ali appears for charity event". msnbc.com. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Alltech aims to build Chinese revenue to $1b by '15". Chinadaily.com.cn. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
  12. ^ Patton, Janet (11 February 2012). "WEG ended 2010 with financial loss despite aid from Lyons, Princess Haya". Lexington Herald Leader.
  13. ^ "Pearse Lyons Sees Opportunities Everywhere". www.chronofhorse.com. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  14. ^ "Alltech opens office in WEG 2014 Normandy HQ - Horsetalk.co.nz". 9 April 2013. Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  15. ^ "Senate Leader Visits Alltech Algae - :Algae Industry Magazine". Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 7 August 2013.
  16. ^ "Alltech among 10 U.S. businesses to receive national award for support of the arts". Kentucky Arts Council. 26 September 2012. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013.
  17. ^ "Alltech's Dr. Pearse Lyons named Ireland's Business Person of the Year". Dairy Business. 8 August 2014. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014.
  18. ^ "Alltech Announce Pearse Lyons Distillery". global.alltech.com. 18 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  19. ^ "Alltech's Irish distillery goes Gothic with restoration of Anglican church". www.kentucky.com. 3 February 2014. Retrieved 12 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Richest 300 Irish now worth €62bn". Irish Independent.
  21. ^ Times, The Sunday (29 April 2012). "The Sunday Times Rich List 2012". Retrieved 9 March 2018 – via www.thetimes.co.uk.
  22. ^ "Alltech Brewing to sell Kentucky Coffee Bourbon Barrel Ale next month". Archived from the original on 22 July 2013. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  23. ^ "Alltech's Dr. Pearse Lyons named Ireland's Business Person of the Year | DairyBusiness". Archived from the original on 8 August 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2013.
  24. ^ "Alltech Founder Pearse Lyons Receives Award". Retrieved 9 March 2018.
  25. ^ Ward, Karla (26 April 2019). "Alltech executive Aoife Lyons, daughter of company's founder, has died". Lexington Herald Leader.

Further information

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