Aer Rianta appoints new chief executive

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John Burke is to hand control of the Irish airport operator to his deputy, Margaret Sweeney, at the end of the year

The board of Aer Rianta has appointed Margaret Sweeney as chief executive of the company. Sweeney, currently deputy chief executive, takes up the post in January after the retirement of John Burke, whose term concludes at the end of the year.

Commenting on the appointment, Aer Rianta chairman Noel Hanlon said: "The board is delighted to have somebody of Margaret Sweeney's calibre and experience to lead the group through these challenging times. Margaret has contributed an enormous amount of energy, time and business acumen to the wide range of senior management roles for which she has held responsibility across the group. My fellow directors and I have the utmost confidence in her strategic leadership abilities and wish her every success in her new role."

Hanlon added: "The board and I would also like to express our appreciation and gratitude to John Burke, not only for his contribution over the past five years as chief executive of Aer Rianta, but also for his selfless commitment to the group over a career spanning nearly forty years. We are pleased that John has agreed to remain as an advisor to the group during the restructuring process that has followed the government's decision on the future of the Aer Rianta airports in Ireland."