Mr. Michael-Zynismus-O-Leary verlässt 2008 die Bühne. Einer der polarisierte wie kaum ein Anderer... Sicher, kreativ mit einer Reihe guter Ansätze... Aber dann ? Zynisch und rücksichtslos fährt er seine 'Geschäftspartner' an die Wand. Für den Rest der Branche hat er nur Hohn und Spott übrig. Für mich ein wiederwärtiger Kerl der die negativsten Seiten des heutigen Zeitgeistes aufs extremste verkörpert...
Der Zweck heiligt nicht immer die Mittel...
The Sunday Times November 20, 2005
I’m going for good, O’Leary tells Ryanair
Douglas Dalby
MICHAEL O’LEARY, one of Europe’s best-known business figures and the man who brought low-cost travel to millions of travellers, has set 2008 as his own departure date from the company that has revolutionised the airline industry. It had been widely expected that O’Leary would “move upstairs” to take the role of non-executive chairman following his eventual retirement, but he has ruled this out.
“I think it is one of the worst things you can do; you have to get out, otherwise you will be like Banquo’s ghost, hanging around the corridors,” he said. “You don’t need a doddery old bastard around the place.”
His decision to sever his links with the business will cause shockwaves in financial circles. Some investors may worry that without O’Leary at the helm the airline will become just another carrier, but he disagrees with that assessment.
“The best companies that have survived over the long term are those that have been able to shoot the old guys — old guys go, not get promoted to chairman,” he said. “The last thing you want in any company is a two-headed dragon where people are questioning if O’Leary is still in the background pulling strings.”
O’Leary, 44, has amassed a personal fortune of €397m, placing him among the top 20 wealthiest people in the republic, according to the most recent Sunday Times Rich List.
He refused to be drawn on his future plans. He currently has around a dozen horses in training and owns a prize herd of Aberdeen Angus cattle, but sport or farming are unlikely to hold his interest.
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