Mounting difficulties at Aer Lingus were compounded yesterday when Mr John O'Donovan, the acting chief executive, announced his departure.
Mr O'Donovan (49), who is the State airline's group finance director, is taking up the post of group chief financial officer with Bank of Ireland. He is replacing Mr Paul D'Alton (50), who is leaving the bank "to pursue a range of business interests," the bank said.
The Aer Lingus executive is expected to join the bank at the end of October or early November. A chartered accountant, Mr O'Donovan joined Aer Lingus in 1995 after 16 years with Grand Metropolitan in Ireland.
Mr D'Alton's decision to leave "is greatly regretted but we respect his wish to pursue a different career path," said Mr Maurice Keane, the group chief executive.
He earned £399,000 in the year to March 2001 according to the most recent Bank of Ireland annual report. He also had options over 350,000 shares at an average price of €2.86, worth almost €2 million at last night's closing price of €9.05.
