The managing director of ESB National Grid, Kieran O'Brien, is to retire from his post at the end of the year. He is taking early retirement from ESB.
ESB National Grid operates the electricity transmission system, but this function is due to be taken over by EirGrid, which will be separate from the ESB Group.
Mr O'Brien was chief executive designate of EirGrid. A statement from the EirGrid board said it regretted that Mr O'Brien would not be taking over as chief executive.
Mr O'Brien said a key factor in his decision was his wish to do everything possible to facilitate the establishment of EirGrid. He said he believed his decision was 'timely and responsible'.
Mr O'Brien, 56, has worked in the ESB since 1971. He ran the company's operations in Saudi Arabia in the 1980s and was ESB director of strategic planning in the late 1980s. He is an officer of the World Energy Council.
