A MAJOR restructuring of the board of Telecom Eireann has been completed, involving the resignation of one director after a lottery to see who would make way, for new appointees and the decision to restrict the voting rights of a further two.
Under the restructuring, three new directors from Telecom's new strategic alliance partners will join the board. To make way, two of the four worker directors will now operate as non voting members, while Mr Charlie Mulligan resigned just before Christmas after a drawing of lots.
The lots were drawn among three of the longest standing directors whose terms would be completed next April. Mr Mulligan appointed by former Fianna Fail minister, Ms Maire Geoghegan Quinn then resigned from the board.
Mr Mulligan, who was not available for comment yesterday, was formerly managing director of Digital in Galway and now runs his own consultancy company.
Telecom chairman - Mr Ron Bolger paid tribute to Mr Mulligan's valuable contribution to the board over the past five years".
Three directors from Comsource - the consortium of KPN of the Netherlands and Telia of Sweden which is taking an initial 15 per cent stake in Telecom - will join the board.
The two KPN representatives are Mr Martin Pieters and Mr Johan Koonig, while Telia will be represented by Mr Seth Merby.
The two worker directors with full voting rights will be Mr Colm McFadden and Mr Michael Egan.
Mr Adrian Harney and Mr Nicky Ryan will be alternate directors, who will be able to attend all the board meetings and will have voting rights in the absence of the other worker directors.
