THE VHI sub committee charged with finding a new chief executive for the company meets today. The six member subcommittee - which includes chairman Mr Noel Hanlon and directors Mr Paul Coulson, Mr John O'Connor, Mr Phil Flynn, Ms Ann Fitzgerald and Dr John Keane - is under pressure to report back quickly to the full board.

The sub committee will consider the appointment of a consultant to run the operation in the short term as it faces the imminent challenge of the arrival of the British healthcare group BUPA into the Irish market.