PrintThis Irish entrepreneur brings more than business sense to the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games.
He calls himself a storyteller, a fatalist, a brewer, a father, a husband and a businessman, but even these titles don’t fully define Pearse Lyons. While his family—wife Deirdre, son Mark and daughter Aoife—is most important to him, making a difference in the world is a close second to the owner and founder of the World Equestrian Games’ title sponsor, Alltech.
“The most important thing is seeing the dramatic impact that, in many cases, a small amount of money or input and a large amount of effort can have on other people’s lives,” said Lyons. “I see opportunities everywhere. That’s what it’s about.”
He’s been referred to as an innovator, a serial entrepreneur and a problem solver, but he claims he doesn’t necessarily have a personal philosophy, except for whatever goes around, comes around.
“We’re here to do a job. We’re here to make a difference,” he said with a smile. “That’s what I do. I’ve been incredibly fortunate that I work with great people. We have great fun; we have great products, but yet in the afternoon, as a colleague of mine would say, we get paid for this!”
Lyons’ son, Mark Lyons, sees how his father motivates people. “You have to feel your way around how you’re going to work with him and what you’re going to do,” said Mark, Alltech’s Director of North America. “It’s just the way he is. It’s not a show; it’s not an act. He’s always going to have ideas that are a little off the wall. He just sees things differently.”
There’s no doubt that beneath the Irish charm and excitement for his projects, Pearse is as business savvy as they come.
“He has this Irish twinkle in his eye as he’s speaking,” said Madelyn Millard, president of the Kentucky Horse Council. “He’s engaging, and he’s exciting to listen to because he’s excited about what’s happening. He has my utmost admiration. He has a vision and a determination and will to see that vision through until completion.”
Millard sees a personal strength in Pearse that she believes has carried over to all his ventures. “Like any other successful entrepreneur, they have a public and private persona,” she said. “I believe it’s his strength in his private persona that has overcome hurdles such as the economy, and I have no doubt that his very strong, very keen business sense has seen us past things that might have been limiting to other people.”
All About Alltech
After building businesses for two other companies in his early career, Pearse decided it was time to build his own. He founded Alltech in October of 1980, investing everything he had into the company. By Christmas, they were making a profit. Alltech’s early success was in large part due to its niche, utilizing yeast in the majority of its products.
“Yeast has application everywhere,” said Pearse. “Using yeast as a catalyst, we built a business. That business stretches from the human side, all the way through animals, to baker’s yeast, supplements, but most of our business has to do with improving the health of animals.”
Pearse holds master’s and doctorate degrees in fermentation from the University of Birmingham in England and attended the British University of Malting and Brewing. In addition to Alltech’s animal health and human health products, Alltech’s Lexington Brewing Company has been producing beer since 2000.
