Legal affairs boss Callaghan is the second Ryanair chief to exit in week
ONE of Ryanair's most high-profile executives, legal affairs boss Jim Callaghan, is to leave the airline at the end of April.
Mr Callaghan informed Ryanair of his intention to quit last Friday, the day after route development boss Bernard Berger handed in his notice.
The resignations come as Ryanair's most senior executives face a pay cut of at least 10pc, coupled with plummeting share option values.
A senior executive since 2000, Mr Callaghan shot to prominence after steering several high-profile legal battles, including the Charleroi subsidies row and the battle to take over Aer Lingus.
As head of regulatory affairs, he frequently crossed swords with the aviation regulator and the Dublin Airport Authority. Mr Callaghan's role also includes acting as Ryanair's company secretary.
"It's not good at all," one industry source said. "Ryanair is already down [former head of scheduled revenue] Sean Coyle. If we see more executives leaving over the next few months, it would be very worrying."
Mr Callaghan is understood to have lined up a job with a major international long-haul airline outside Europe. He will remain with Ryanair until the end of April to facilitate the handover of his workload.
A spokesman for Ryanair confirmed Mr Callaghan's resignation and said the airline wished "Jim the best of luck".
When asked if Ryanair was concerned that pay cuts and a depressed share price was prompting an exodus of management, the spokesman replied "no".
- Laura Noonan
