Ireland's consul general in New York, Tim O'Connor, has been appointed as secretary general to President McAleese.
The appointment follows the retirement of Brian McCarthy from the post after a 45-year career in the Civil Service. Mr McCarthy was secretary general to President McAleese for the past nine years.
In a statement the Government announced that Mr O'Connor had been appointed to the post after consultation with the President. He will take up his duties in March.
Mr O'Connor (54) is a native of Limerick and was educated at St Munchin's College, Limerick, and Maynooth College, where he graduated with a BA and Higher Diploma in Education.
He joined the Civil Service in 1974 and moved to the Department of Foreign Affairs in 1979. He served in a number of senior posts in the department and was joint secretary of the North/South Ministerial Council based in Armagh from 1999 to 2005 when he moved as consul general to New York.
