Former TV3 boss David McRedmond is to be the new chief executive of An Post, the State-owned postal company.

He will succeed Donal Connell, who retired recently after 10 years in the role. Mr McRedmond, who will serve a seven-year term from the beginning of October, was appointed after a competitive search process overseen by the board.

Mr McRedmond had been chief executive of independent broadcaster TV3 from 2006 until its sale to Liberty Global in December 2015.

Prior to TV3, Mr McRedmond was the commercial director of Eircom and the managing director of Eircom Enterprises.

His early career was as a retail industry executive in the UK and United States where he held senior roles such as operations director of Waterstones, managing director of WH Smith Travel Retail and chief executive of WH Smith Inc.

A native of Dublin, he is a director of the Ireland Funds, non-executive chairman of Powerscourt Media (Ireland) and a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts.

‘Delighted’

An Post chairman Dermot Divilly, said he was "delighted" to have attracted a "business leader of the experience" of Mr McRedmond to lead An Post through the "challenging industry and technology environment" in the years ahead.

“I have been impressed by his ability to lead transformational change in companies across several adjacent sectors such as retailing, telecoms and media. I am confident that with the talented An Post team and dedicated workforce, David will lead the transformation of An Post for the long-term future.”

Mr McRedmond said: “It is an honour and a rare opportunity to be able to lead such a major organisation as An Post. The company has a magnificent history and is a great and much-loved brand.

“My job will be to ensure its future is as bright as its past, meeting the seismic market changes head-on with boldness and creativity. I have been convinced by the board’s dedication to the task of ensuring An Post is central to a dynamic, open Irish economy.”