Bank of Ireland is understood to be preparing to appoint London-based executive Lewis Love to its leadership team, to fill a vacancy left by Senan Murphy who left the bank late last year to become CRH's finance director.

The Irish Times has learned Mr Love, global chief procurement officer with financial services group Aon, has been lined up to replace Mr Murphy, who was the bank's chief operating officer and head of group manufacturing.

Mr Love previously spent more than three years with Bank of Ireland, as head of asset and liability management with responsibility for capital management, securitisation and funding. A lawyer by trade, he joined Aon in 2008 and previously worked for Barclays Bank and Washington Mutual.

Bank of Ireland declined to comment. “A recruitment process is underway . . . it is not possible to comment further at this time,” the bank said.

Its chief executive Richie Boucher has taken responsibility for group manufacturing since Mr Murphy left.