Eircom’s new chief comes as a surprise

FORMER Vodafone Ireland head Paul Donovan has been appointed chief executive of Eircom, in what is generally being seen as something of a surprise announcement.

The former State-owned telecommunications firm made the announcement even though speculation had it that a permanent replacement for Rex Comb, who left the company earlier this year, probably would not be unveiled until the end of this month.

A further surprise related to the new appointment was that it was thought Cathal Magee – the former managing director of Eircom’s retail division and for the past while, the group’s acting chief executive – would get the nod on a full-time basis.

“Paul’s vast industry experience and specific knowledge of the Irish market will be critical in leading the group through the major challenges that undoubtedly lie ahead.

“He has worked with some of the largest international brands, and has been extremely successful developing and implementing strategic programmes which achieved strong growth for those operations,” Eircom chairman Ned Sullivan said of Mr Donovan’s appointment.

Mr Donovan spent nine years with Vodafone, three of which were as chief executive of its Irish operations.

Most recently he was head of Vodafone’s operations in central Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region.

He has been a member of Vodafone’s executive committee for the past four years and will formally take up his new position at Eircom at the beginning of July.

Mr Donovan’s appointment comes at a busy time for Eircom – and shortly after it said that it was looking at a number of takeover approaches that have been made for the company.

The highest profile of these has been the Australian-based Taemas Bridge consortium led by Rob Topfer – the man who actually led Babcock & Brown’s €2.4 billion acquisition of Eircom three years ago – and the aforementioned former chief executive Rex Comb.