Buckley says INM 'needs a new leader'

BUSINESSMAN LESLIE Buckley has called for Gavin O’Reilly to be replaced as chief executive of Independent News Media.

In an interview with The Irish Times, the former INM director said it “needs a new leader” to arrest its underperformance. “I think it would be good for the company it there was .”

This comes almost a year after Mr Buckley was ousted from the INM board by shareholders having served as one of three representatives of Denis O’Brien, INM’s biggest shareholder.

Mr O’Brien is reported to be lining up to remove Mr O’Reilly at its annual meeting on June 8th.

Mr Buckley questioned what was being done about INM’s €147 million pension deficit.

“I don’t see Gavin worried about that. I don’t know what they’re doing about it. I certainly didn’t see any action while I was there.”

Separately, Mr Buckley hinted that Aer Lingus, where he is a director, might outline its dividend policy at its upcoming annual meeting.