Ryanair chief financial officer Howard Miller to step down

Ryanair's deputy chief executive and chief financial officer Howard Miller is to step down after 23 years with the airline to pursue other career opportunities.

Neil Sorahan will replace Mr Miller as chief financial offer on October 1st.

Mr Sorahan, who has worked at Ryanair for almost 12 years, joined the company as treasurer in 2003 from CRH. He was promoted to finance director in June 2006 where he has operated as Mr Miller's deputy.

“All of us in Ryanair look forward to working with Neil as he becomes Chief Financial Officer. He has a hard act to follow, but as we enter into a five-year period of renewed growth, with new aircraft deliveries starting in September and a rapidly improving customer experience, we all believe that Neil is the right person to fill the void left by Howard,” said chief executive Michael O’Leary.

While he is off to pursue new opportunities, Mr Miller will retain links with Ryanair by joining its board as a non-executive director next year.

Mr Miller played a leading role in the development of Ryanair during a period in which it grew from less than 1 million to over 80 million passengers a year and was a pivotal figure in many of the airline’s key developments, including its 1997 IPO, its subsequent 530 new aircraft orders and related financings, and most recently its debut €850million Bond issue.