Irish Nationwide director Mr Maurice Harte has left the company less than a year after being brought on board to strengthen the society's management team.

In a terse two-sentence statement, a spokesman for the building society said: "Mr Harte, having completed his initial period with the society, has decided to resign from his position as director and chief general manager of the society to pursue other interests in real estate and finance".

The statement noted his departure "with regret".

It is unclear if Mr Harte, one of three executive directors of the society alongside managing director Mr Michael Fingleton and company secretary Mr Stan Purcell, will be replaced.

Mr Harte joined Irish Nationwide in January of last year from the property group Treasury Holdings, where he had been the chief executive for the previous 18 months

He had previously worked at Allied Irish Investment Managers and Hill Samuel.

Mr Harte did not return calls last night. No further comment was available from Irish Nationwide.

In the past year, the building society has promised to improve its transparency to and communication with members following representations by customers to the Director of Consumer Affairs, Ms Carmel Foley.