Shannon Group chief to depart State company for Ports of Jersey

Shannon Group chief executive Matthew Thomas is leaving the State airport and property company in June to take the same post at the Ports of Jersey in the Channel Islands.

Mr Thomas took the helm at Shannon Group in 2016. Since then, the number of people travelling through its airport grew to 1.86 million last year, a 6.5 per cent increase on 2017.

Another element of the State-controlled group, Shannon Commercial Properties, invested €40 million in the first phase of its redevelopment of its free zone.

Shannon Heritage, which includes Bunratty Castle in Co Clare and Malahide Castle in Dublin, drew almost 925,000 visitors last year.

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Mr Thomas said he was looking forward to his new job. He noted he had worked with managers and staff at Shannon Group who had transformed its businesses over the last three years.

“The group is now set on an ambitious course, investing aggressively to drive further growth in the years ahead,” he said.

Shannon Group chairwoman Rose Hynes pointed out that its businesses had performed strongly over the previous three years despite challenges and uncertainties.

“Profitability has improved significantly across all our businesses enabling us to embark on the next stage of the group’s investment plan to ensure the longer-term sustainability of the group,” she said.

Mary Considine, Shannon Group deputy chief executive, will become acting chief executive once Mr Thomas leaves in June.