Kenny Jacobs, the former chief executive of the Irish airport operator DAA, has officially joined the drone delivery company Manna as its new executive chairman and president. Jacobs brings a wealth of executive experience to the role, having previously served as the Chief Marketing Officer for Ryanair and worked for major corporations including Tesco, Metro Group, and MoneySuperMarket. His appointment at Manna follows his recent departure from the DAA in February, which occurred after he settled a lawsuit against the State airport operator stemming from a rift with the company’s board.
Founded in 2018 by entrepreneur Bobby Healy, Manna is preparing for significant international growth. Stepping into his new role, Jacobs praised the startup, stating, “Manna is one of the most exciting companies coming out of Ireland in a generation”. He emphasized his goal of expanding and commercializing the firm’s world-leading drone delivery technology across various industries.
Under Jacobs’ leadership, Manna will be strategically shifting its operational focus to the United States and the United Kingdom, where aviation policy and regulatory frameworks are currently more advanced. Consequently, the company is pausing its delivery operations within Ireland, citing the “absence of a clear national policy framework” and the uncertainty caused by local planning processes regarding the infrastructure needed for scaling drone deliveries.
Despite pausing local commercial deliveries, Manna will retain its deep roots in Ireland. The country will remain the company’s headquarters for corporate functions, manufacturing, engineering, and research, preserving a local workforce of nearly 200 people as Manna directs its operational resources toward international markets.
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