Aer Lingus CFO quits after little more than a year in the role

Aer Lingus chief financial officer Nessa McNeela is leaving the airline after a little more than a year to take a new job in London, adding a senior departure as the carrier tries to restore its profits.

McNeela joined Aer Lingus’s parent company, International Airlines Group, after starting her career at KPMG. She worked in the British Airways business and briefly served as chief financial officer of IAG Cargo last year. At Aer Lingus, she played a major role in efforts to cut costs and improve earnings margins.

The airline said her new “senior level opportunity” with an unnamed London company would allow her to work closer to home. Aer Lingus has begun the process of finding a new CFO. Until then, Reid Moody, the chief strategy and planning officer, will take on the finance role alongside his existing responsibilities from October 1.

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new senior level opportunity

McNeela’s departure comes during a difficult period for the Irish carrier. Higher fuel bills, driven by tensions in the Middle East, and increased competition on North American routes have eroded profits. The airline told staff in July that it wanted to cut up to 500 jobs from a workforce of 6,500, including 70 pilot positions, 140 cabin-crew roles and 290 head-office posts.

Aer Lingus said the cuts were intended to strengthen profits and lift its operating margin to between 12% and 15%, in line with wider IAG targets. Chief Executive Lynne Embleton has forecast a “low single-digit” margin for the year. Talks with pilots over the cuts ended abruptly last month after only 12 minutes, while the airline disputes the IAG European Works Council’s position that it should be consulted before local discussions begin.

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low single-digit