Shannon Group CEO Neil Pakey decides to step down

The announced departure of Shannon Group CEO Neil Pakey “has come like a bolt out of the blue”.

Fianna Fáil transport spokesman Timmy Dooley said he was “surprised” to hear Mr Pakey will be leaving at the end of a three-year contract next June.

Since June 2013, after a successful period at John Lennon Airport, Liverpool, Mr Pakey has headed up the Shannon Group — which includes Shannon Airport.

Mr Dooley said he would be asking the Oireachtas Transport Committee to call Shannon Group chairman Rose Hynes, before it in the new year, to explain the background to the imminent departure.

However, Ms Hynes said: “Neil came on board as CEO at an exciting time for Shannon as it embarked on life as an independent entity and during his tenure many milestones have been achieved.

“From an airport perspective we have returned Shannon to growth following five years of successive decline and, by the end of 2015, passenger numbers will be up by 22% from where we started out.”

She also outlined achievements by Shannon Heritage and said: “All of this happened with Neil Pakey as CEO, playing a key role in leading the team in the rebirth of Shannon as a catalyst for growth for the entire region.”

Thanking Mr Pakey for a vital contribution, she said he will leave in June “with Shannon Group on a very positive footing, primed for growth, and we now embark on the task of appointing his successor”.

Mr Pakey said that he was looking forward to a new challenge. “I’ve worked with a great management team and a great board and we’ve really transformed the Shannon Group during the past three years,” he said.

He thanked the board for the opportunity but also said the employees were proving to be the lynchpin of the success and he would like to give credit where it was due.