The chief executive of Kainos, one of Northern Ireland's largest businesses, is to stand down after 22 years in the job.
Brendan Mooney joined the Belfast-based IT firm in 1989 as a trainee engineer and he was appointed to the top job in 2001 and floated the business on the London stock market in 2015.
Brendan said his decision to step down was not an easy one but he added that it was "made easier knowing the talent and motivation of the team leading the business today".
His role will be taken on by Russell Sloan, who is currently the Digital Services Director for Kainos. Russell said he is excited to be taking over the role and thanked the board "for the confidence placed in me to lead this exceptional business".
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Commenting on this announcement via LinkedIn, Brendan said: "Earlier this morning we announced that I will be stepping down as CEO of Kainos at our AGM in September and I am delighted that my talented colleague of twenty-four years, Russell Sloan, will be taking on the role. I will be supporting Russell in his new role until June 2024."
"While today is the start of the transition, not the end, I would like to say thank-you to my colleagues at Kainos, for their support and friendship throughout my career. In the face of such generosity, thank-you seems somehow inadequate, but hopefully you will know the depth of emotion behind those simple words."
Brendan also expressed gratitude towards his wife, saying: "And to my wife Eileen Mooney, an accomplished accountant and CFO who was also my very own personal coach and mentor - the biggest thanks of all - I could not have done my job without you by my side."
Mr Mooney also remains one of the businesses largest shareholders.
Source: Written by John Campbell, BBC News NI
