A new chief executive has been appointed to Aer Lingus. He is 52-year-old Michael Foley, a native of Co Wexford, who is currently chief executive of Heineken in the United States. Mr Foley was formerly chief executive of Murphy's Brewery in Cork, which is owned by Heineken. He left to take up the US post in 1994. Aer Lingus chairman Bernie Cahill said he will bring the perfect blend of international business and public company experience to the chief executive's job at a critical time in the airline's development.
Mr Foley will have the task of managing the airline through the process of a public floatation. The board of Aer Lingus would like to see the sale of shares to the public and institutions taking place later this year, but the legislative timetable, and negotiations with the unions on an ESOP could push it into 200. The Minister for Public Enterprise Mary O Rourke has already met the unions to begin that process.
