Tom O’Dwyer holds a degree in Agriculture and a doctorate in agricultural marketing and business management at Cornell University. From 1969 to 1973 he was head of the Marketing Department of Agricultural Institute in Dublin. From 1973 to 1980 he was head of the Dairy Division in the Directorate General for Agriculture of the European Commission. In 1981 he became chef de cabinet of Commissioner Ray MacSharry and after that head of the Directorate ‘Organization of markets in livestock Products' of the Directorate General for Agriculture. Subsequently he became Director-General for the Coordination of Structural Policies.