Little things

Almost a year since he checked out as chief executive of the Doyle Collection, Irishman Bill Walshe has taken over as head of…

Almost a year since he checked out as chief executive of the Doyle Collection, Irishman Bill Walshe has taken over as head of the Los Angeles-based Viceroy Hotel Group.

Viceroy is planning openings for Istanbul in 2013 and Bodrum in 2014 to bring its total to 18 worldwide.

Viceroy said Walshe brings a “truly global perspective” to the company, having also previously worked for Jumeirah Group and Kempinski Hotels Resorts.

In its press release to announce Walshe’s appointment, Viceroy said he “led the brand through its reinvention into a modern luxury urban hotel group”.

READ SOME MORE

High praise indeed, if a touch exaggerated.

**

The board of the National Asset Management Agency can’t be accused of slacking. Its annual report this week showed that it met 30 times in 2011, a level that would put most plcs in the shade.

US-based Steven Seelig, a former IMF executive, was marked present for 28 of the meetings. Not surprisingly, his travel and accommodation expenses were much larger than those of other board members. Seelig claimed €38,211 in travel expenses and €9,156 in accommodation and subsistence last year.

This was from a grand total of €60,873 for the entire board.

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock

Ciarán Hancock is Business Editor of The Irish Times