By Business & Finance 
Walter Martin is the Group CFO at Kepak, the Irish-based food company. He has been with the company since 2018, when he joined Kepak as Head of Finance. Before this, he held the role of Financial Controlling Director for the Metal Division at Ardagh Group.
By Héloïse Chaudot
What was your first job?
My first job was in a builder’s providers in Dublin’s East Wall when I was 15. It was full of proper characters, and I fell for every trick that trade apprentices are subjected to.
I learned quickly that every experienced person you come in contact with during the early stages of your working life can teach you something — so listen carefully, keep your sense of humour, and never assume you know everything. Those early lessons have stayed with me ever since.
What are your main priorities and goals in your current role?
Ultimately, my goal is to help Kepak build on its strengths as an ambitious food company and achieve industry-leading standards in profitability, sustainability and operational excellence, while staying agile enough to respond to new opportunities and challenges in a rapidly evolving global food market.
What pushed you to pursue a career in this field?
I was drawn to the food industry because of its scale, its challenges and its real impact on everyday life.
Ireland is a “food island”, and this sector touches people’s lives every day, both at home and in markets around the world.
I’ve always liked work where you can see the results – where decisions made on site end up on shelves, in kitchens and in homes. It’s also an industry that is constantly evolving, whether through innovation in food, nutrition and sustainability or through changing consumer expectations, and that pace and variety really appealed to me.
How do you motivate yourself and your team?
I’ve always believed that the most successful family businesses are built on a strong shared culture, and Kepak is no different.
People here stand behind the values and long-term vision of the founders, not just the targets. That shared sense of purpose – supporting our people, customers and farming partners – is what drives motivation and performance across the business.
In one sentence, how would you define success?
Success for us in Kepak is delivering safe, high-quality food consistently and sustainably, while creating value across the supply chain – from farmers to customers – in a way that strengthens trust and long-term competitiveness in the food industry.
How do you relax?
I still attempt to play football in an over-35s league. I’m not ready to commit to the golf course just yet.
What is your favourite (non-business) book?
I can’t resist a good Bill Bryson book on holidays. They’re light enough to dip in and out of, but you always end up learning something along the way.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
The best advice I have ever received is that when people know what they truly want, it becomes much easier to help them achieve it, and in business, that clarity is incredibly powerful.
If you are lucky enough to see them achieve those goals, it is hugely satisfying.
How do you handle adversity?
The food industry is no stranger to shocks, and we’ve been through many in recent years. Calm heads always prevail.
What are the aspirations for the future of the business?
Kepak’s long-term ambition is to be a successful, sustainable and future-ready food business, with differentiation at its core and a reputation as a great place to work.
As an Irish food company serving customers at home and in international markets, we know that how we use technology and data will be a key enabler of that ambition. For me, it’s about giving our people practical tools and insights that help them make better decisions every day.
By maintaining a strong focus on our people, our partners across the supply chain, and how we organise ourselves as a business, we can continue to innovate and ensure Kepak thrives in the long term.
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