Image: Shutterstock/katatonia82 Image: Shutterstock/katatonia82 RYANAIR BOSS MICHAEL Michael O’Leary has told the High Court that he was “taken aback” when the airline’s COO Peter Bellew informed him that he was joining Easyjet.
O’Leary, who accepted that he had criticised Bellew’s overall performance in an annual review in March 2019, denied in his evidence that he wanted to get rid of Bellew. He said Bellew, who worked for the airline between 2006 and 2015, was rehired to deal with certain operational difficulties and with a view to deal with pilot issues.
O’Leary was giving evidence on the second day of Ryanair’s proceedings against Bellew arising out of his decision earlier this year to leave the company at the end of this month and join Easyjet as its chief operating officer.Ryanair claims that Bellew cannot join Easyjet because of a clause in his contract of employment that prevents him from joining a rival for a period of 12 months post his departure from Ryanair.
It also seeks an injunction preventing Bellew of Glenconnor House Killarney, Co Kerry from acting contrary to the post-termination restrictions allegedly contained his contract of employment.