Former Opel boss O’Byrne was driven to distraction by his General Motors bosses

AS the face of Opel Ireland in the ’80s and ’90s, Arnold O’Byrne was one of the most visible corporate bosses here. His profile was further boosted because Opel sponsored the Irish soccer team in its most successful era.

But despite leading Opel back to the top of the sales charts and supporting the Jack Charlton-managed team that qualified for two World Cups and a European Championship, O’Byrne fought daily with the powers that be within General Motors, the American owners of the Opel brand.

In a new book, Shenanigans — Lifting the Lid on General Motors, O’Byrne highlights a corporate culture that, he says, is why the conglomerate is fending off allegations of mismanagement with the recall this week of 8.5m cars due to faulty ignition switches. This could cost the company $1.2bn.