Rain Bird Corporation, Azusa, California, has selected Michael Donoghue as its newest CEO and president. Donoghue assumes the role from Rain Bird Chairman Art Ludwick, who served as the company’s interim CEO following the death of Rain Bird’s former CEO and president Tony LaFetra in January 2021.
“Rain Bird’s board of directors is very pleased with today’s announcement,” Ludwick says. “Mike is an intelligent and thoughtful leader who has succeeded in every role he has held at Rain Bird. The board has no question that Mike is the right person to lead Rain Bird into its bright future.”
Over his 31-year career at Rain Bird, Donoghue has held several positions, including quality manager, plant manager, engineering manager and business unit director of the company’s golf division before becoming a vice president at Rain Bird in 2000. In February 2021, he was promoted to executive vice president and chief operating officer.
Donoghue has been responsible for each of Rain Bird’s six business units since being hired in 1990. Since 2006, he’s also overseen the company’s manufacturing and distribution operations.
He earned a mechanical engineering degree from the Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, Indiana, and an MBA at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona, California.
“Rain Bird’s long-standing commitment to provide efficient irrigation solutions that support sustainable agriculture and healthy, enjoyable green spaces is more important than ever as we look to secure our future,” Donoghue says. “I am honored, humbled and excited to be entrusted with continuing the incredible legacy built by the company’s founders.”
