Mr Declan Moylan becomes managing partner at Mason Hayes & Curran solicitors, the Dublin-based law firm. He succeeds Mr Maurice Curran who becomes the firm's senior partner.

Mr Moylan joined the firm as a partner in 1989 and was recently involved in advising FLS Aerospace on its acquisition of TEAM Aer Lingus.

Mr Gerry Jones, managing director of International Test Technologies, has been elected chairman of the Irish Software Association (ISA).

He replaces Ms Mary Cryan, managing director of Cryan Consulting, who has completed her two year term of office.

Friends First has made two senior appointments as part of an overall restructuring programme.

Mr John Cunningham, currently head of planning and marketing becomes general manager - group development and marketing.

Mr Sean Kennedy, currently head of information technology at the company, becomes general manager - operations. He previously worked for Irish Life.

Mr Sean Cooney is the new trade director of Vantage Wholesale Ltd, the cash and carry company which holds the Mace franchise for Munster and the Costcutter franchise for the Republic.

Mr Cooney worked with SuperValu/Centra Distribution for 19 years as buying director.

Mr Gerry Earley becomes sales and marketing manager of Clayton Love, the distributors of frozen foods.

Mr Earley previously worked with SC Johnson Wax and was sales manager of the Alba Division of the Allegro Group.

Ryan Glennon & Company has appointed Mr Aidan Byrne as a tax manager. Mr Byrne joins from the Revenue Commissioners where he worked for 18 years in VAT and revenue audits.

Mr Peter Corr becomes sales manager (Europe) for the Long Mountain Wine Company, part of Pernod Ricard South Africa. Mr Corr previously worked with World Brands Duty Free, Irish Distillers and Fitzgerald & Co, wine and spirit merchants.

Mr Ross Brennan becomes a senior manager with the Dublin-based IT consultants, the Harvard Group. Mr Brennan has spent 12 years in the financial services technology sector and worked most recently for Flexicom.

Ms Deborah Kelly has joined the commercial department of Eugene F Collins solicitors. She previously worked with the German firm, Gaedertz Vieregge Quack & Kreile in Cologne and a civil litigation firm in San Francisco.

Ms Carmel Mulligan has become the president of the Leinster branch of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants. Ms Mulligan, at 31, is the youngest female president ever elected to the position. She is a director of Resource Systems International Ltd.

Mr Hugh Jarlath Morris becomes pelagic marketing director of BIM, the State fisheries board.

Mr Morris will be responsible for the promotion and development of international markets for pelagic fish, particularly herring.