Third top-level executive leaving reorganised ESB

A third top-ranking executive at the ESB is leaving the State-owned electricity company, which is reorganising under the leadership of Mr Padraig McManus.

Directors were informed at a meeting yesterday that the human resources director, Mr Seán O'Driscoll, will leave soon.

The board met to ratify a number of senior appointments to the top-level management team, which will operate under the stewardship of Mr McManus, who is chief executive designate. He is expected to unveil a new management structure today.

Mr O'Driscoll follows the company secretary, Mr Larry Donald, who resigned two weeks ago, and its director of international investments, Mr Dónal Curtin. Mr Curtin had been Mr McManus's main internal rival to succeed Mr Ken O'Hara, who retires next month. Mr Curtin resigned soon after the competition.

Mr O'Driscoll joined the ESB in 1997 from Energy Services International/Solar Turbines. He worked previously for CIÉ and for the US conglomerate GE. He said he was leaving because he had achieved all he set out to do at the electricity company.

It is understood that Mr McManus and the ESB chairman, Mr Tadhg O'Donoghue, urged him to stay.

Taken with appointments made yesterday, Mr O'Driscoll's departure means that less than half the top management team of last year remains in place.

The managing director of ESB national grid, Mr Kieran O'Brien, left to become chief executive of the newly independent grid company, now called EirGrid. In addition, the managing director of the Irish electricity section, Mr Ted Dalton, died last summer.

With the promotion of Mr McManus, who was commercial director, just Mr Tony Donnelly and Mr Sean Wyse from last year's top management remain at the highest level.

They will be joined by Mr John Shine, who left the company four years ago to start a translation business. Reappointed to the ESB as executive director of the networks division, he is controlling shareholder and was managing director of Eurotext Translations.

The secretary of that firm and minority shareholder, Mr John McSweeney, is a director of a number of ESB subsidiaries.

The division Mr Shine will lead is the last remaining monopoly within the ESB and has the highest investment requirement. It was previously led by the Irish networks manager, Mr Dermot Byrne, who is expected to become manager of the commercial division.

Mr Wyse, formerly head of engineering and commercial business, was made executive director of commercial enterprises yesterday. He too was interviewed for the post of chief executive but not shortlisted.

In an indication that the ESB will emphasise its domestic business in the medium term, the division is expected to include its international operations.

This would be contrary to expectations, but in line with the Government's refusal last year to sanction a €1.8 billion bid for a major acquisition in Poland.

Mr McManus said in a statement yesterday he was committed to growing the international business.

He added: "The ESB is committed to facilitating the opening of the Irish electricity market and continuing to compete itself."

Mr Donnelly was appointed executive director finance yesterday. Mr Aidan O'Regan remains head of regulatory affairs.

The ESB board also agreed yesterday to spend €461 million on the construction of two new peat-fired power stations - at Shannonbridge, Co Offaly, and Lanesboro, Co Longford.