Pearse Lyons

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.

[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.

[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.

[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.