EIGHTEEN months after he resigned as managing director of Doyle Hotels, Mr David Doyle has been reappointed to the position. His sister, Ms Bernadette Gallagher, who succeeded him, has been appointed to the non executive position of deputy chairwoman. Dr Paddy Galvin, the outgoing chief executive of Waterford Crystal, has been appointed chairman.
Tourist industry sources speculated last, night that Mr Doyle had won an internal family struggle to resume management control of the group, the biggest hotel company in Ireland with seven hotels in Dublin, two in Washington DC and one in London.
Mr Doyle resigned in June 1994 "to concentrate full time on his personal property investment and business interests". It was known the Doyle family was divided over his investment policy which was to plough profits back into a constant upgrading of the hotels.
The group's advisers, the corporate arm of AIB group, is understood to have recommended the appointment of a strong, non family chairman and the reinstatement of Mr Doyle.
Sources close to the company said last night the group intended to remain private and had sufficient resources to fund its expansion plans, which would be concentrated in Britain and the US.