In March, the former chief executive Pat McCann left Jurys and was replaced by Niall Geoghegan, the company’s marketing director.
Commenting on his move, McQuillan said: “I joined what was a plc five years ago. It is now a family-run business and I took the view that this was the right time for me to move on.” McQuillan, who is 48, said he would take a short break before deciding what to do next. He would not comment further on his future plans.
McQuillan joined the board of Jurys in 2001 after nearly 12 years with United Drug, where he was finance director. He also worked with KPMG, an accounting firm, in Dublin and America.
At the time of Jurys €1.2 billion take private, McQuillan owned 90,000 shares worth €1.7m and held 253,000 options worth nearly €4.8m.
He was a close associate of McCann at Jurys, and his departure has heightened speculation that the pair might work together again, possibly to put in a bid for the Jurys Inns chain of three-star budget hotels.
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In June, reports suggested that the chain could be sold by Jurys, with a value of €700m placed on the hotels. A sales process is expected to begin in early 2007.
McCann was instrumental in setting up and growing the Inns business. Jurys will open its 21st inn on August 25 at Milton Keynes near London.