Tensions Rise at DAA as CEO Kenny Jacobs Faces Uncertainty

Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien is not providing public commentary on the rising tensions within the Dublin Airport Authority (daa), which have reportedly led CEO Kenny Jacobs to consider his future just two and a half years into his seven-year term. According to a report from the Iris Independent, the semi-state organization is experiencing significant internal friction, particularly at the board level, regarding critical planning issues at Dublin Airport and concerns about Jacobs’ management style.

When questioned about whether he has intervened in the situation or if he supports Jacobs, officials from the Department of Transport declined to provide details. A spokesperson stated, “Operations within State companies are matters for the Boards of those companies. Accordingly, it would not be appropriate for the Minister or Department to comment on such matters.”

The Department did not clarify if Minister O’Brien has discussed the situation with Kenny Jacobs or daa board chair Basil Geoghegan. Geoghegan, an investment banker appointed in 2018 by former Minister Shane Ross, played a key role in recruiting Jacobs, who has remained as chief executive despite the internal tensions.

Sources indicate that Jacobs, previously a prominent figure at Ryanair, is contemplating his future due to ongoing disagreements with several board members. These disagreements center around the airport’s challenges in lifting planning restrictions that hinder growth and concerns regarding Jacobs’ approach to management. While complaints from staff have been acknowledged, sources indicate that no complaints were upheld and no formal complaint process is currently active.

In a recent interview with the Sunday Independent, Jacobs discussed his assertive management style, stating he has adopted a “take-no-shit” attitude from his time at Ryanair. He also addressed the sometimes contentious relationship between the airport authority and Fingal County Council, asserting, “I would be sticking my elbows out because I think we have taken shit in the past and I think we now need to look after ourselves and do what’s right for our business.”

Jacobs succeeded Dalton Philips as CEO of daa in 2023, with a financial package exceeding €370,000. The daa operates both Dublin and Cork Airports and is engaged in extensive international operations, particularly in the Middle East. During his tenure at Ryanair, Jacobs served as chief marketing officer for over six years, during which time he was often considered a potential successor to CEO Michael O’Leary.

O’Leary, when asked about the internal issues at daa during Ryanair’s annual general meeting on Wednesday, chose to refrain from commenting. “I’m not getting sucked in,” he stated. “There’s speculation in the papers about somebody’s position in a semi-state company. I don’t know anything about it and I’m not in a position to comment.”

As the situation evolves, the future of Kenny Jacobs at the helm of daa remains uncertain amid these internal challenges and external scrutiny.