MS Jean Wood and Mr Ron Butkiewicz have joined the board of Irish Life. The appointments bring the number of directors to 13. The number of executive directors has been increased from two to four.

Ms Wood, who joined Irish Life at the end of 1993 from the Prolific Group in Britain, is chief executive Ireland retail and UK at the group. Mr Butkiewicz is president and chief executive officer of group operations in the US, which include the Interstate and First Variable companies. He joined Irish Life of North America in 1987 from First Penn Pacific Life.