Former Aer Lingus chief financial officer Brian Dunne has taken up a senior post with Ace Aviation, the parent company of Air Canada, it has emerged.
Mr Dunne, one of those credited with turning around Aer Lingus in the wake of the attacks of September 11, 2001, will be taking up his position in Montreal next month.
He is to become executive vice president and chief financial officer at the company which has an operating turnover of Canadian $8.9 billion (€6 billion).
The post is a senior position in the US and Canadian aviation sector and he will be working closely with Ace's chairman and chief executive, Mr Robert Milton.
In reporting to Mr Milton it is understood Mr Dunne will have executive responsibility for the overall financial strategic direction of the company.
He will alsobe taking on a senior role in the financial monitoring of Ace and its operating companies.
It is understood Mr Dunne has been talking with Ace for some time. His experience in transforming Aer Lingus into a low-cost carrier is believed to have interested Ace, which itself is currently trying to reduce its costs and boost its profits.
The company is significantly larger than Aer Lingus with a fleet of approximately 300 aircraft serving 150 destinations. Air Canada emerged from bankruptcy protection in 2004, creating the new holding company structure.
Ace also owns the regional carrier Air Canada Jazz, a low-cost operator serving destinations in Canada and the United States.
In addition, the company owns Aeroplan, which operates a frequent - flyer program and the online travel site, Destina.ca.
Ace also owns various cargo businesses, ground handling firms and travel firm Touram Limited Partnership. Ace recently took a 7 per cent stake in the American West-US Airways merged entity.
Mr Dunne's appointment follows the decision earlier this year by British Airways to appoint Willie Walsh as chief executive. Mr Walsh will take up his position formally next month.
Mr Seamus Kearney, the other member of the former Aer Lingus management team, is also believed to be studying various opportunities.
After leaving Aer Lingus earlier this year the three managers considered a number possibilities, including setting up a new lost-cost trans-Atlantic airline. But this project was effectively scrapped after Mr Walsh took up the British Airways post.
Mr Dunne joined Aer Lingus as chief financial officer in October 2001 and was appointed to the board in February 2004. He is a chartered accountant and prior to joining Aer Lingus he was a partner in Arthur Andersen.
Mr Dunne was the senior financial officer at the airline for the last few years, but was also heavily involved in the negotiating the short-haul fleet replacement deal with European manufacturer Airbus.
He also began negotiations on long-haul fleet with Airbus and Boeing before he left the company along with Mr Kearney and Mr Walsh.
