The sudden resignation of FLS Aerospace group chief executive Steffen Harpoth last Friday seems to have happened at the same speed as the man himself moved. FLS, which bought out TEAM Aer Lingus in 1998, said it was the expected loss of €25 million which led to his resignation.

Employees, union leaders and indeed politicians will recall a man who was always in a hurry, who would jet in and out of Dublin on the same day when trying to put the FLS acquisition together.

The Danish executive had a brusque manner, but those who dealt with him, recall that he did have some diplomatic qualities. He could not understand why people would not want to work for FLS, but did concede that he understood why some employees would be reluctant to leave the Aer Lingus fold.

Despite resigning because of the group's poor performance, Harpoth's belief in TEAM Aer Lingus was well-founded. He said the company would employ more people (it has) and would become profitable (it is). No doubt Harpoth will find somewhere else to speed off to.