We knew all about Walsh’s office romance, says BA owner IAG, as it denied it had anything to with his exit
- Since Walsh’s retirement it has emerged he was having an office romance
- The relationship was widely known about within IAG
IAG has been forced to deny its veteran boss is leaving because he was having a relationship with a colleague.
Willie Walsh, who was paid £3 million last year, announced last week that he would be leaving the British Airways owner in June.
But it has since emerged the 58-year-old chief executive was having an office romance, The Sunday Times reported, with a woman who worked in IAG’s finance department.
Willie Walsh announced last week that he would be leaving the British Airways owner in June
An IAG spokesman said: ‘There is absolutely no truth in rumours that Willie’s personal life had any impact on the timing of his retirement.’
Walsh is divorced from former wife Caragh, and sold £3.5 million worth of shares last year to help cover the settlement.
The Mail understands the relationship was widely known about within IAG, and the woman was moved out of the finance department so the two were not working as closely.
But even so, it could raise concerns about governance at the company.
McDonald’s sacked boss Steve Easterbrook last year after it emerged that he had been having a relationship with a subordinate.
And a married executive at investment giant Blackrock, Mark Wiseman, was fired last month for failing to report his relationship with a colleague.