The Irish Bankers Federation (IBF) has announced that Mr Pat Farrell, the head of marketing and communications at the EBS building society, will take over as director general of the federation in early 2004.
Mr Farrell will succeed Mr Jim Bardon who is due to retire next year.
He is a former general secretary of Fianna Fáil and a past chief executive of Galvia Private Hospital in Galway. Prior to that, he held a range of posts in regional health boards.
IBF president Mr Donal Forde yesterday welcomed Mr Farrell to the association, which represents Irish financial institutions.
"He brings with him a wealth of experience in both financial services and communication, which makes him a very worthy successor to Mr Bardon," Mr Forde said.
Dr Diarmuid Bradley, deputy chief executive of Permanent TSB is due to succeed Mr Forde as the next president of the IBF.
The association represents 60 financial institutions, including domestic and foreign banks and institutions based at Dublin's International Financial Services Centre.
