The Irish Food Board, Bord Bia, is understood to be close to appointing a successor to Michael Murphy as managing director of the UK office.
Bord Bia is currently in contractual negotiations with the individual, said to be an Irish figure who is well known in the food industry.
Subject to the outcome of the discussions, the identity is expected to be made public within a matter of weeks. Murphy is currently continuing to fulfil the UK MD role, while also having taken up his new position as Bord Bia’s director of European markets.
A key responsibility in his new role is to oversee the drive to increase exports of Irish beef to the continent.
Once the Over Thirty Months Scheme is lifted in the UK on November 7, Ireland is expected to lose a sales outlet for around 70,000 tonnes of its beef.