An Englishman with a long record in airport management and also with an academic background in the field, has been appointed general manager designate Aer Rianta, Shannon Airport, pending the retirement of the current general manager, Mr Barry O'Shea, at the end of the year.

Mr Bob Goldfield, who is currently managing director of Teeside International Airport and formerly manager of Hong Kong International Airport with responsibility for operations and technical administration, will take up the position designate at Shannon at the end of September.

Mr Goldfield, who is in his fifties, has a long background in air transport, beginning as an aircraft electrical engineer before moving into air traffic control. In 1988 he became director of Inverness Airport and two years later took up his appointment at Hong Kong International before moving to Teeside in 1992.

Mr O'Shea, who retires at the end of the year, has spent over 40 years working in different capacities at Shannon. In 1995 he was appointed general manager with Aer Rianta at Shannon.