Workers at daa have been told Kenny Jacobs “is and remains” the chief executive of the operator of Dublin and Cork airports.
The comments were made in an internal message sent to employees at the semi-state company amid the ongoing reports regarding the future of the CEO’s tenure.
RTÉ News learned earlier this week that an agreement had been reached in principle between Mr Jacobs and the daa board of directors, under which he will leave his role in the new year, pending ministerial approval of the exit package.
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Daa boss Jacobs and board reach agreement on exit package
The internal note from the daa management said: “We recognise that the recent coverage, speculation and commentary surrounding our CEO and board may be unsettling, not least when family and friends are asking you questions that you can’t answer.”
The workforce was told that “while board matters are confidential, we want to reiterate that Kenny is and remains daa’s CEO.”
“In the event of any mutual agreement being agreed and approved, we will update you,” the note to staff said.
“As always, our focus is, and will continue to be, on our business, passengers and customers, and any change would take place over an agreed timeframe,” the daa staff were told.
“Kenny, the executive team, and board are fully aligned in the focus on business-as-usual matters,” the noted added.
Meanwhile Minister for Transport has said he has not yet received any formal proposal from the daa board on an early exit package for the chief executive.
Speaking to reporters in Brussels, Darragh O’Brien described the operator of Dublin and Cork airports as a “very successful” commercial semi-state and he said: “the issues between the executive and the board are matters for them.”
“I don’t manage the company on a day-to-day basis. I have not received any proposals formally. When I do, I’ll have a look at them,” he added.
Minister O’Brien said in terms of his personal experience in dealing with daa CEO, he “found him very good”.
“He was very committed and remains very committed. I’m not going to say anything more than that, because it is a sensitive time, and these matters are being worked through,” he said.
The note said the board will continue its normal schedule of meetings and next week Kenny will be in Cork and Dublin airports.
RTÉ News established that an agreement between the daa boss and the board was reached after a mediation process in recent weeks, following a breakdown in relations between Mr Jacobs and members of the board, which is chaired by Basil Geoghegan.
It is estimated the exit package would be in the region of €1.2m, given the period of time remaining in Mr Jacobs contract.
The deal will require approval from Minister for Transport Darragh O’Brien and the Minister for Public Expenditure Jack Chambers, which is a process sources said “could take weeks”.
A spokesperson for the daa declined to comment further on the matter or to confirm that a deal had been reached.
Head of communications at daa Graeme McQueen said there is “no secrecy” on the matter at the Dublin Airport operator.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Drivetime, Mr McQueen said Mr Jacobs remains the CEO and is “on the ground doing the job day to day”.
“The team are very focused on getting passengers through, that’s ultimately what our business is about, it’s about making our passengers happy, getting them on their way, and that will remain the case.
“If there’s something to be said on Kenny Jacobs or anyone else working for daa, we’ll say that in time, but for the moment it’s all just speculation.”
