NCB chief operating officer, Mr John Keilthy, is leaving the stockbroking firm to set up a reputation management consultancy.
Mr Keilthy has been with NCB for the past 18 years and was a key participant in the firm's management buyout (MBO) last year.
His shareholding in NCB, which is thought to stand at between 4 and 5 per cent - worth an estimated €1-€2 million - is likely to be offered back to other shareholders upon his departure.
The move into reputation management, which effectively straddles public relations and investor relations, is thought to stem from a long-held ambition on Mr Keilthy's part.
He will initially establish a consultancy on his own, but may form links with larger organisations in the future. His first client for reputation management services will be NCB.
Mr Keilthy has held a number of positions at NCB throughout his career, including equity analyst, manager of corporate affairs and head of wealth management.
NCB has passed through much change over the past two years, with 2003's successful MBO preceded by a failed acquisition by a French firm and a failed MBO in 2002.
The success of the second MBO attempt was driven in part by the involvement of Mr Conor Killeen who took a stake in the broker along with three colleagues in corporate finance firm Key Capital.
Mr Killeen and two of his former Key Capital colleagues left NCB in August and their collective 10 per cent holding was soaked up by existing shareholders. This saw Mr Séan Quinn raise its stake in the company from 20 to 25 per cent.
