The chief executive of the Irish Dairy Board, Noel Coakley, has resigned.
A statement from the board said he was leaving to pursue other business interests. Mr Coakley has worked with the board since 1983 and has been chief executive since 2005.
Chairman Michael Cronin said the board would look at appointing an interim chief executive, and would also consider the appointment process for a new chief executive at a meeting next week.
The Irish Dairy Board owns the Kerrygold brand, which is the Irish dairy industry's most important marketing asset.
Mr Coakley's resignation comes at a time of extreme difficulty for the dairy sector because of a massive drop in international demand and prices. Farm groups here believe that dairy farmers will barely meet their cost of production this year and will earn no income.
Farmers and representatives of the dairy processing industry have held a series of meetings recently to lobby for help for the sector. They have called on Minister Brendan Smith to seek support from his fellow EU Ministers for full price intervention storage and increased export subsidies.
IFA Dairy Committee Chairman Richard Kennedy said there is an unprecedented crisis in dairy markets, and the majority of Irish dairy farmers will make no income from milking cows this year.
