THE RYANAIR director and former EU Commissioner Charlie McCreevy, has taken on two more non-executive director roles.

Mr McCreevy has joined the board of Sports Direct, the UK’s largest sporting goods retailer which was founded by Newcastle United owner, Mike Ashley.

It is believed that Mr McCreevy’s joining the board is designed to assist the company with its plans for expanding further into Europe. It is already active in a number of European countries, including Ireland. The non-executive chairman of Sports Direct, Dr Keith Hellawell, said the company was very pleased to welcome Mr McCreevy on to the board.

A spokesman for BNY Mellon, the US financial services group, confirmed yesterday that Mr McCreevy is to join the board of one of its Irish-based entities, BNY Mellon Clearing International Ltd. He will take up his position as a non-executive director on the board of the company, subject to regulatory approval.

BNY Mellon is involved in asset management and securities servicing and has been operating in Ireland since 1994. It employs in excess of 1,800 people in Dublin, Cork, Wexford and Navan. Companies Registration Office filings show Mr McCreevy joined the board on February 18th. The company was incorporated last year.

When he left the commission last year Mr McCreevy joined the board of a new banking venture, NBNK Investments but was forced to step down over concerns the move might be in contravention of EU conflict of interest rules.

The Serious Fraud Office in the UK has conducted an inquiry into alleged cartel activities by Sports Direct, but last year said it would not be bringing charges against the company or any of its current employees.