AIB's chief operating officer Anne Boden is leaving the bank after just 18 month in the role, The Irish Times has learned.

In a statement last night, AIB confirmed Ms Boden's departure, saying she had "decided to leave the bank to pursue new challenges overseas".

The bank, which is 99.8 per cent owned by the State, declined to make any further comment. Staff were notified of her departure yesterday.

Employees surprised
Ms Boden was one of the most senior members of chief executive David Duffy's management team and her sudden exit has surprised employees.

Her position was newly created and she was in charge of the transformation agenda at the bank, aimed at reducing its operating costs by €350 million over the next two years in a bid to return to profitability.

In November, Ms Boden was one of four senior executives at the State-controlled bank charged by Mr Duffy and the board of the company with accelerating a resolution of its customer “arrears challenge” so that it can attract external investment and deliver a return to taxpayers.

She was regarded as the architect of a major plan to digitise AIB’s activities, introducing cloud-based technologies to its operation. Ms Boden was also responsible for a number of recent outsourcing contracts at the bank.

Outsourcing
In October, Ms Boden told The Irish Times that AIB would outsource between 250 and 300 roles in its 800-strong information technology unit over the next three years as the business is reshaped to become a digital bank.

Ms Boden said the bank’s strategy was to automate services where possible.

Born in Wales, Ms Boden previously held senior roles with Royal Bank of Scotland, ABN Amro and insurer Aon.