The EBS has appointed three new directors to its board. The building society has appointed Mr Cathal Magee, Mr Mark Moran and Ms Barbara Patton as non-executive directors following an advertisement to recruit new members to the board.

Mr Magee is managing director of Eircom retail, the company's voice, data and internet communications business. He was previously managing director of Eircom Ireland, having held that position since its flotation in 1999. He has also worked at National Australia Bank in the Republic and Britain, and for Bord na Móna.

Mr Moran is the chief executive of the Mater Private Hospital. He is a chemical engineer and worked in the pharmaceutical industry in Ireland and the US before joining the Mater Private Hospital. EBS chairman Mr Brian Joyce is also chairman of the Mater Private Hospital and already serves with Mr Moran on that board.

Ms Patton is an independent marketing consultant and is also a part-time lecturer at the Michael Smurfit Graduate School of Business. She previously worked at AIB Capital Markets and, more recently, with Irish Permanent.

There were two vacancies to be filled following the resignation of Mr Terry Kelly and the death of Mr Noel Windle last year.

The building society has undertaken a major review of its business and decided to appoint an additional non-executive director to support the implementation of its plans.

The EBS is the only building society to advertise for non-executive directors. It advertised a similar position in 2000, which resulted in the appointment of Ms Ethna Tinney.

EBS chairman Mr Brian Joyce said it was delighted that its campaign to recruit directors had worked so successfully.