3COM'S country manager for Ireland, Mr Shane Buckley, has been appointed director of the US electronics company's Asia Pacific sales operation.

Mr Buckley, who is from Cork, will be responsible for selling 3Com's computer networking products in 19 countries including Australia, China, Japan, and India.

Mr Buckley said his new job would be a "significant challenge" as 3Com expects to have Asia Pacific sales of $ 1 billion (£641 million) by 1999.