The chief executive of Waterford Crystal, Mr Redmond O'Donoghue, has been appointed chairman of Bord Failte. The appointment has effect from Friday when Mr Mark Mortell, who has been appointed commercial director of Aer Lingus, formally steps down from Bord Failte.
Mr O'Donoghue said that although he had little direct experience of tourism, "all my life I have been involved in selling something, and now I am chairman of an organisation that sells the country."