Telecoms entrepeneur, Denis O'Brien, has been appointed deputy governor, or vice chairman, of Bank of Ireland with immediate effect for a two-year term.
Mr O'Brien (47) was appointed to the bank's board, known as the Court, in 2000.
Mr O'Brien is chairman of Digicel Group and the Governing Body of the National College of Ireland. He is also a director of Aergo Capital Ltd, Communicorp Group Ltd, Oakhill Plc and Frontline - International Foundation for the Protection of Human Rights and a number of other companies.
Mr O'Brien is one of Ireland's richest men with substantial interests in mobile telecommunications and radio. Five years ago he made more than €200 million when he sold his stake in the Esat Telecom mobile phone company he founded to BT.
Mr O'Brien was educated in University College Dublin and Boston College where he was awarded an MBA in corporate finance.
Commenting on the appointment the Bank of Ireland's current governor, Richard Burrows said: 'Denis has made a significant contribution to the work of the Court since his appointment in 2000. I am pleased that he has accepted to become Deputy Governor and I look forward to working closely with him in the future.'