Outgoing Ryanair COO felt like 'dead man walking', court hears

Ryanair's outgoing COO Peter Bellew considered himself a "dead man walking" after a March performance review and resigned after being ordered to work at the airline's Austrian business, he said Thursday. Bellew was speaking in court during a case brought by Ryanair to delay him joining rival easyJet for 12 months until 2021. Ryanair has said Bellew possesses information of competitive value covered by a non-compete clause. Former Malaysia Airlines boss Bellew denies he is subject to the clause and plans to start working with the British airline at the start of next year after working out a six-month notice period. The court hearings, which have gone on for longer than the four days initially expected, have included assessments of Bellew's performance and an accusation, rejected by CE Michael O'Leary, that Bellew was bullied. Bellew, who was being questioned by his own counsel and Ryanair's, said "shouting and screaming" by O'Leary during weekly management meetings indicated that O'Leary was not entirely happy with his performance. But Bellew said he was "absolutely shocked and devastated" when O'Leary at a March 2019 annual performance review said that his position as COO would be reviewed after 12 months unless his performance significantly improved. Bellew told the court that he understood that to mean he was a "dead man walking."<br/>