New chairman of airport authority unveiled

Businessman David Dilger was today revealed as the new chairman of the State-owned Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

Transport Minister Noel Dempsey said Mr Dilger, former chief executive at Greencore Group plc and a non-executive director with Bank of Ireland, has a highly regarded track record at a senior level in business over many years.

“I am pleased that he has accepted this exciting appointment at a very challenging time in the aviation industry,” said Mr Dempsey.

“I know that he will bring exceptional skill and drive to this new role.”

DAA Chief Executive Declan Collier said Mr Dilger is a business leader of the highest calibre.

“On behalf of the board, the management, and the staff of the DAA, I would like to welcome him to the company,” he added.

Mr Dilger, a chartered accountant by training, sparked anger among Greencore shareholders when he left the firm with a multi-million euro lump sum is respect of his pension entitlements while the firm dropped in value.

He had been chief executive at the Irish food and property group since 1995 until his retirement in April 2008.

Mr Dilger was previously chief executive of Food Industries plc from 1988, which was taken over by Greencore, following a term as group finance director of Woodchester plc (now GE Capital).

He takes over from Garry McGann, who quit from the high-profile position with DAA in February.

Mr McGann was also one of five non-executive directors with Anglo Irish Bank who resigned from the board of the scandal-hit lender in January a week after it was taken over by the Irish Government amid a loans fiasco.

When Mr McGann resigned from the DAA, he stated he had “acted with honesty and integrity” at all times in Anglo.