Hibernian group finance director Mr Tony O'Riordan has been appointed managing director of Hibernian Life & Pensions.

Mr O'Riordan has been with the company since 1998 and was director of finance for Hibernian Life & Pensions and Norwich Union Life before the two companies merged in 2000.

Before joining Hibernian, Mr O'Riordan was head of finance and actuary with Scottish Provident Ireland.

He has also spent time in London working for the Swiss Bank Corporation and the actuarial consultancy Tillinghast.

Mr O'Riordan replaces Mr Grant Barrans, who moved to a new position with Hibernian's parent company, Aviva, in October.

Mr O'Riordan said yesterday that he looked forward to taking on the new role. "My main focus will be in maintaining the strong growth of the company over the last few years that saw us move to third position in the Irish market last year," he said.

Mr Bryan Jenkins, Hibernian chief executive, said Mr O'Riordan had been central to the group's growth in the Republic over the last few years.

Mr O'Riordan's successor as group finance director will be announced shortly.