Food group Greencore has appointed Maurice FitzGerald as its property director, saying he will lead its 'property development agenda'.
Mr FitzGerald is a civil engineer who has previously held senior roles with the IDA, Hewlett Packard, Intel and Dell Europe.
Shares in Greencore have climbed by 30% since it posted annual results last November, boosted by speculation that the sale of over 900 acres of land, formerly sugar processing plants in Mallow and Carlow, could bring in a hefty windfall.
Chief Financial Officer Patrick Coveney said yesterday that it was too early to say what the group's property assets might be worth. In order to maximise value, the sites must first be rezoned for other uses, he told the Reuters news agency.
Mr Coveney poured cold water on reports the company may become actively involved in property development.
