NIB appoint chief economist

NATIONAL Irish Bank (NIB) has appointed Dr Ronnie O’Toole to its newly created position of chief economist. Formerly a senior economist with Forfas, Dr O’Toole’s role at the bank will be to help NIB’s expansion plans by providing analysis and commentary on Irish and global economic trends — in particular those elements of economic performance which impact the bank’s personal and business portfolios.

“He brings a fresh approach that fits well with our philosophy of ’new thinking in banking’ and he has a very strong and interesting grasp of both Irish and world economics,” said NIB chief executive Andrew Healy.