Few would envy the task facing CIE's new chairman, John Lynch.

The likelihood of increasing competition and plans to break up the group of companies indicate that the job will not be an easy one. There is also the question of CIE's testy workforce, whose penchant for industrial strife is legendary.

And Mr Lynch will work full-time, alongside CIE's full-time chief executive, Michael McDonnell. Having two full-time bosses run a group of companies is highly unusual and it remains to be seen where the lines of demarcation will be drawn.

Ironing out CIE's difficulties with the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, will be another matter. This task may well fall to Mr Lynch as Mr McDonnell is not particularly close to the Minister.

For all that, the straight-talking Mr Lynch will bring his many talents to the job, not least his robust sense of humour.

At the Institute of Personnel and Development a.g.m. last week, he gave no indication that the job could be seen as a poisoned chalice.

His presentation followed that of a McKinsey consultant, Mr Keith Leslie, who spoke on the "war for talent" and the need to retain staff. With this in mind, Mr Leslie cited the availability of massage and aromatherapy services for Microsoft workers and IBM's provision of a running track on the roof of one of its offices. "I suspect I'd need all three for CIE," said Mr Lynch.