Aer Arann, the regional airline, has appointed former Aer Lingus chief executive Garry Cullen as its chief executive.

Mr Cullen takes up his duties next month. The airline's founder and outgoing managing director, Pádraig O'Ceidigh, will take up the post of executive chairman on his arrival.

The executive chairman role is typically used when there is no chief executive, but Aer Arann's spokeswoman said that there was nothing unusual about the airline's retention of both positions.

"Pádraig is still keeping an active role in the company. That's the role that he has chosen for himself."

She said that Mr Cullen's appointment was designed to strengthen the airline's management as it prepares for a significant expansion.

As part of the changes, the outgoing Aer Arann chairman, Paul D'Alton, steps back to become a non-executive director of the airline.

Mr Cullen was less than two years in the top post at Aer Lingus before he resigned in February 2000 in the run-up to a proposed flotation, which was subsequently cancelled. In his long career with Aer Lingus, he had been chief operating officer, director of operations and head of route planning.

Only weeks after his departure from Aer Lingus, he went to the Caribbean to become chief executive of the Antigua-based airline LIAT.

He joins Aer Arann as it prepares to spend some $180 million (€140.54 million) buying 10 new ATR72-500 planes in the next three years.

The addition of these French-made 72-seater aircraft will bring the airline's fleet to 24.

Mr Cullen said that he had great admiration for what Aer Arann has achieved to date. "I look forward to working with Pádraig and the management team to further develop and expand the airline," he said.