Mr Des Crowley has been given responsibility for all retail operations at Bank of Ireland following a senior management reshuffle.

Mr Crowley, who is head of Bank of Ireland's domestic banking operations, has been given added responsibility for retail businesses. This will see him taking on leadership of activities such as the bank's various life assurance interests.

Bank of Ireland said yesterday that Mr Crowley, who is in his mid-40s, would be responsible for generating growth in an increasingly competitive market and for reducing costs.

He takes over the retail job from Mr John Collins, who has been appointed as group chief development officer.

Mr Collins will oversee "the stewardship and governance of subsidiary boards and affiliates". He will also be in charge of co-ordinating mergers, acquisitions and asset sales at the bank, as well as formulating group strategy.

The bank's existing group chief development officer, Mr Jeff Warren, will retire at the end of June. Mr Warren previously headed Bank of Ireland's UK subsidiary, Bristol & West.

Bank of Ireland has also expanded its executive committee by adding two new members: Mr Ronan Murphy, group chief risk officer, and Mr Michael Grealy, head of group human resources.

Bank of Ireland's chief executive, Mr Mike Soden, said all the management changes reflected "the primacy of [the bank's\] people as a key differentiator".