The chief executive of Esat Digifone, Mr Barry Maloney (41), has resigned from the position to pursue other interests. He is to take up the position of non-executive chairman of Digifone. Mr Maloney's decision comes three months after Mr Neil Parkinson, Esat Telecom's chief executive, resigned citing similar reasons. He took up the position of non-executive chairman of the Esat group.

Mr Maloney owned 2 per cent of Esat Digifone prior to the sale of Esat Telecom to BT for £2.5 billion (#3.17 billion) in January 2000 and netted just over £40 million from the sale. "I have been in the job now for five years and it's time for a change," he said yesterday.