Sweeney named Aer Rianta chief

AER RIANTA has chosen deputy chief executive Margaret Sweeney to succeed current chief John Burke who is stepping down at the end of this month.

The appointment is surprising as Transport Minister Seamus Brennan is preparing legislation to break Aer Rianta into three separate companies next year to run its three airports.

The board could have asked Mr Burke to stay on while the corporate entity is broken up. Mr Burke is highly respected in the aviation industry and is president of the airport industry body ACI EUROPE. He was paid 315,000 in 2002, according to the company’s annual report. Legislation to split the State-owned company in three was expected before Christmas but is not expected to be introduced until the New Year.