Ulster Bank has made three appointments to its board of directors, including that of Eircom chief executive Philip Nolan.

The bank, part of the Royal Bank of Scotland group, also named Mike Mills and Ian Webb as non-executive directors.

Mr Mills, a former President of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce, recently retired as chief executive of Ulster Carpet Mills. He has also established a private equity investment firm, Jigsaw Tree.

Mr Webb is chief executive of John Hogg & Co, a family firm that operates a range of businesses including textiles, travel, fuel oils and property.

A respected figure in golf circles, he has been chairman of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews, the international governing body of the game, and is a member of Augusta National, where he serves on the rules committee for the Masters.

Ulster Bank, is headed by Cormac McCarthy and chaired by Dr Alan Gillespie. It employs more than 5,000 people.