National Irish Bank (NIB) has appointed Mr John Trethowan to succeed Mr Owen Vanzuyden as chief operating officer. Mr Vanzuyden is leaving Ireland to take up a senior position in Australia at NIB's parent company, National Australia Bank. Mr Trethowan (47), will take over as chief operating officer and director of Northern Bank and NIB on August 1st. He is currently co-ordinating the bank's dealings with the various investigations, including the unauthorised selling of the Clerical Medical Insurance offshore investment scheme. From Cumber, Co Down, Mr Trethowan, has had a long career with Northern Bank, joining its sister operation in the Republic, NIB in 1998.

Mr Vanzuyden took over as chief operating officer in 1999 and took on the additional responsibility of general manager of personal financial services for Ireland.

He is moving to take on a new role as general manager, homeside lending services, based in Melbourne. This division is National Australia Bank's mortgage processing operation.

Announcing the changes at the bank yesterday, chief executive, Mr Don Price, said Mr Vanzuyden came to the bank at a difficult time and restored the focus back to our customers. "He made a very special contribution through his style of leadership," according to Mr Price.

Meanwhile, Ms Katherine James will shortly return to Ireland as general manager, of the bank's personal financial services business in Ireland. Ms James, who is from Northern Ireland, is currently general manager of strategy and business development at the Bank of New Zealand.