One of the country's best known backroom political figures, Labour's chef de cabinet Fergus Finlay, is to leave full-time politics to become chief executive of children's charity Barnardo's.
The former adviser to Dick Spring, who was seen as a central figure in two coalition governments and in the 1990 presidential election campaign for Mary Robinson, will take up his post in three months.
Mr Finlay said his decision to leave was in no way linked to a reorganisation of Labour's structures. He has been Labour's chef de cabinet since Pat Rabbitte became leader. The job was "one of only two or three" he would have moved for. "I'd also like to be minister for education, but I don't think that's likely," he said.
He will replace outgoing chief executive Owen Keenan, who steps down after 15 years.
A member of the charity's fundraising board between 2002 and 2004, Mr Finlay has also been closely involved in the Special Olympics movement, and is chair of Special Olympics Ireland.
Asked about speculation that his departure was linked to the party's reorganisation, which has seen a director of operations appointed, he said: "It's completely untrue."
"I'm a member of the Labour Party. I'll probably die a member of the Labour Party and I've got great faith in Pat Rabbitte and tremendous commitment to the party and that will last forever."