Richard Burrows, one of the three top executives at Pernod Ricard, the owner of Irish Distillers, is to retire from his day-to-day role at the beginning of next year.

Mr Burrows, who turns 60 in January, is one of two deputy chief executives working under Patrick Ricard, chairman and chief executive.

He said yesterday that it had long been his plan to give up his executive responsibilities at Pernod when he turned 60.

"This is not something that is new. It has been on my agenda," he said. Mr Burrows became governor of the Bank of Ireland in July and he said that he would devote more time to this post.

However, he also said that he could be interested in a post at another consumer products company. "I look forward to getting involved in one or two other things," he said.

Since Mr Burrows became joint deputy chief executive in 2000, he has acted as a bridge between the French group and English-speaking financial markets, something that was important earlier this year when Pernod bought Allied Domecq with the aid of the US's Fortune Brands. He was paid €1.52 million in the year to June 30th.

Mr Burrows said he would remain a director of Pernod, while also keeping the post of chairman of Irish Distillers. He was working for Irish Distillers when Pernod took it over.

Under the management triumvirate of Mr Ricard, Mr Burrows and Pierre Pringuet, Pernod has pursued a rapid international expansion that has taken it further away from its roots.

Mr Pringuet, a 55-year-old Frenchman, has long appeared to be the best-placed internal candidate to succeed Mr Ricard. Mr Ricard turned 60 earlier this year and has said that he does not want to run the company for many more years, though he has not publicly set a date for retirement.