MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs Episode #92: T. Pearse Lyons

MoxieTalk with Kirt Jacobs

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, Lyons founded Alltech, an animal health company. What started as a very modest company has grown into a high technology, 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. It is the title sponsor to the 2010 Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games being held in Lexington, Ky.

Lyons 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 England’s University of Birmingham. Lyons eventually moved to Lexington, Ky. and accepted the position of executive at Biocon, Inc., a British company that produces brewing additives.

Lyons has developed numerous new products including Kentucky Ale, Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, Bluegrass Sundown, Pearce Lyons Reserve, LIFEFORCE, and Dippin’ Dots.

Lyons counts the things that have happened as an outgrowth of Alltech – like the number of young people who’ve achieved their Ph.D. as a result of working there and finding science exciting – as the most exiting part of his achievements. 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 really satisfying.