The Music Network has appointed John O'Kane as chief executive, following Niall Doyle's departure to RTE, writes Michael Dervan. O'Kane, best known as a cellist but with a recently-acquired MBA to his credit, was not unknown to Music Network. He was the organisation's project manager on the exciting new scheme that will see a string quartet established in Sligo next year. He describes the project as "very much close to my heart," and says: "It typifies the spirit of the sort initiative which I would like to see the organisation develop." The Arts Council has appointed Maura Eaton as music officer in succession to Dermot McLoughlin, who has been promoted to the new position of artform director. Eaton comes to her new post with a background mainly in contemporary music - as executive director of the Association of Irish Composers and administrator of the Ennis IMRO Composition Summer School.