Mr Pat McDowell is to become deputy group chief executive of the Bank of Ireland on February 1st, 1998. Mr McDowell (57) who will retain responsibility for the group's retail operations in Ireland, will replace the current deputy chief executive Mr Maurice Keane. Mr Keane takes over as group chief executive on February 1st when Mr Pat Molloy retires.

Mr McDowell joined the bank in 1970 as an information technology specialist. He became head of technology in 1978 and moved to the retail division in 1988 as deputy chief executive. In 1991 he became chief executive of the retail division.

He was appointed to the group board in 1994.