Staff at Dublin and Cork Airport operator daa have been told the company's CEO, Kenny Jacobs, is to "take some time out of the business".
It follows months of wrangling between Mr Jacobs and the daa board of directors.
An exit package had been agreed between the daa and Mr Jacobs in mid-September.
However, the package was not signed off by Minister for Transport Darragh O'Brien and Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers.
A message was sent to all daa employees at around 9pm yesterday evening from the daa Chief People Officer, Siobhán Griffin.
The email notes that strong performance at daa was achieved "during a period of intense scrutiny and challenge at a corporate level".
"We recognise that the speculation and commentary surrounding our CEO and board has been unsettling, not least when family and friends are asking you questions that you cannot answer," the message states.
"The board has asked me to share with you today that our CEO will take some time out of the business."
"In combination with the daa executive, the recent appointment of Nick Cole as Deputy CEO ensures there will be continuity of leadership throughout this period," it added.
