The former boss of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA), John Corrigan, has died.

He was 76 years of age.

Mr Corrigan led the NTMA over a six-year period through the depths of the financial crisis.

He joined the agency in 1991 not long after its establishment, having previously worked as the Chief Investment Officer of AIB Investment Managers, and in the Department of Finance.

At first, he was responsible for managing the domestic component of Ireland's national debt at the NTMA.

Ten years later, Mr Corrigan was involved in the establishment of the National Pensions Reserve Fund (NPRF).

He served as the NPRF's Investment Director until his appointment as NTMA Chief Executive in December 2009 as the financial crisis was unfolding.

Over the subsequent six years, Mr Corrigan steered the organisation through the tumult of the financial crash and the subsequent start of the recovery.

This included the country’s successful exit from the EU/IMF bailout and its re-entry into the sovereign debt markets.

"I want to express our shock and sadness at the sudden and untimely death of John," said Frank O'Connor, current Chief Executive of the NTMA.

"Our thoughts are with his family and on the terrible loss they have suffered. John served the NTMA with great distinction from 1991 to 2015, including leading the Agency so effectively as Chief Executive from 2009."

"During that time, John played a critical role in managing the State's response to the financial crisis and, particularly, navigating the successful post-crisis return of the State to the international bond markets."

Mr Corrigan's period leading the NTMA also saw the setting up of the National Asset Management Agency under its auspices.

"I am shocked and saddened by the sad news and I want to express my deep sympathy to John’s wife and family," said Brendan McDonagh, the current Chief Executive of NAMA and former Director Finance, Technology and Risk at the NTMA.

"John made a massive contribution to this country and particularly to our recovery from the 2008 financial crisis. He was a man of exceptional ability and integrity combined with a sense of humour."

"He will be best remembered for this time as CEO of the NTMA and prior to that as the person who led the Debt Management unit and led the NPRF but he also made a huge contribution to NAMA where he was a founder member of the Board and a huge support to me when the agency was being established."

In 2015, after he retired from the NTMA, Mr Corrigan was appointed the chairman of stockbroker Davy and served in the role until December of last year.

During that period, he guided the firm through a crisis stemming from a €4.1m fine from the Central Bank over regulatory breaches related to a 2014 bond trade.

The crisis ultimately led to the sale of Davy to Bank of Ireland.

"John was a highly respected business figure, but he was also a superb human being," said Davy Chief Executive, Bernard Byrne.

"A man of tremendous insight, intellect and integrity, he will be sadly missed by all who knew him and benefitted from his counsel and friendship."