ONE OF Ireland’s best known businesswomen is to step down from her position as head of 02 Ireland next month.

Danuta Gray is to resign as chief executive of the company after nine years in the job. She will be replaced by O2 UK’s consumer sales director, Stephen Shurrock. Mr Shurrock (39) will take up the position on December 1st.

Ms Gray will remain as non-executive chairwoman of Telefónica O2 Ireland, but will leave the board of Telefónica Europe at the end of November. She is to take on an advisory role within Telefónica Europe.

Telefónica Europe chief executive Matthew Key praised Ms Gray’s record with the company, describing her as “a great and effective leader”.

“I am delighted that she has agreed to continue as part time non-executive chairman in Ireland and I look forward to working with her in an advisory capacity on a number of projects across Telefónica Europe, where we will benefit from her considerable expertise, passion and experience.”

Ms Gray (51) joined O2, then Digifone, in 2001. She had previously worked for BT in the UK, where she had a series of senior positions since 1984.

British-born Ms Gray is well-known as a non-executive director of various Irish companies, including Irish Life Permanent and Aer Lingus. She is also on the board of children’s charity Barretstown. She will remain in these posts following her resignation.

Mr Shurrock joined O2 in 2000 and has held a number of senior sales and finance roles, including head of commercial finance for Telefónica O2 UK, and is credited with presiding over a significant improvement in the performance of Telefónica O2 UK’s direct business and the online channel.

02 is the second largest network in the State.

It has approximately 1.7 million subscribers here, including more than 146,000 broadband customers.