Ibec appoints pharma chief as president

Employers' group Ibec has elected the chief executive and founder of the Healy Group as its new president.

Maurice Healy takes over from Gary McGann, chief executive of Smurfit Kappa.

The Healy Group operates in the pharmachemical and food ingredient sectors and has more than 400 staff. It was established by Mr Healy in 1985.

Addressing the Ibec president's biannual dinner last night, Mr McGann urged policymakers to avoid moving towards a "an exclusively socialist model".

He said this would allow for "passengers" to share the same benefits as risk takers in the economy. "It would not work and would undermine all that has been achieved," Mr McGann said.