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The worst job in PR? Ryanair advertises for "brave soul" to be its new head of communications

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By Cameron Clarke | Editor

December 19, 2012 | 2 min read

It has been described as the worst job in public relations - and now it could be yours.

Notorious Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary is on the hunt for a "brave soul" to take on what he describes as the "high profile and incredibly overpaid position" of head of communications at the Irish budget airline.

Current incumbent of the post Stephen McNamara is leaving the company after "four years of being battered and abused by O'Leary", as Ryanair's own typically un-pc press release explained, to head up PR for Irish Rugby.

McNamara officially departs Ryanair in February when he will become head of communications at the Irish Rugby Football Union.

Spelling out the demanding task ahead for the new head of comms, O'Leary said: "As a company that spends little on advertising, we rely on our communications department to generate loads of free PR, as well as responding to the never ending series of absurd claims and fanciful stories that surface on a daily basis. Working in the calm waters of Irish rugby should prove a piece of cake after four years in Ryanair.

"In the meantime we look forward to recruiting another brave soul to take on the 'worst job in Irish PR' and look forward to grooming the next candidate to take over the high profile and incredibly overpaid position as Ryanair's head of communications."

Ryanair has rarely been far from the front pages over the last four years thanks to the uncompromising manner of its chief executive O'Leary, who once claimed the airline was planning to charge for 'standing seats' and found himself in hot water in September after calling a customer an idiot.

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