Episode 92. Dr. T. Pearse Lyons – President & Founder, ALLTECH, Inc.
A native of Ireland, Dr. T. Pearse Lyons is driven by making a difference in the world and has built his company, Alltech, based on doing the right thing.
In 1980, Pearse founded Alltech, an animal health company. What started as a very modest company has grown into high technology, a high-concept global giant with revenues of $500 million. Alltech is now located in Nicholasville, Kentucky, on a 146-acre campus with a stunning blend of science and art. The title sponsor to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games held in Lexington, Ky.
Pearse credits his mother’s emphasis on education as spurring him forward in his studies of science. He studied yeast fermentation, eventually earning his Bachelor of Science from the National University in Ireland and his master’s and doctorate degrees at the England’s University of Birmingham. Lyons eventually moved to Lexington, Ky., and accepted the position of an executive at Biocon, Inc., a British company that produces brewing additives.
Pearse has developed numerous new products, including Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, Bluegrass Sundown, Pearce Lyons Reserve, LIFEFORCE, and Dippin’ Dots.
Pearse counts the things that have happened as an outgrowth of Alltech – like the number of young people who’ve achieved their Ph.D. due to working there and finding science exciting – as the most exciting part of his achievements. In addition, he cites surprises in his life like running a marathon when he turned 50, the impact of sponsoring the World Equestrian Games, meeting Muhammad Ali and bringing him to Ireland, meeting the Queen, and sitting with her for several hours as surreal and the types of things that are satisfying.