THE British health insurer BUPA, which is setting up an Irish operation, has appointed two former VHI executives to its senior management in Ireland.

BUPA Ireland's director of provider affairs, Ms Maureen Lynott, and the company's director of operations, Mr John O'Dwyer, both previously held the position of assistant chief executive with VHI. Ms Lynott, until recently, also served on the board of VHI as a non executive director.

Ms Lynott will have responsibility for liaising with the medical profession and hospitals, and will negotiate agreements and contracts for BUPA's services. Ms Lynott was formerly executive director of Focus Point. She was one of VHI's assistant chief executives from 1988 until 1992. She was appointed to the board of VHI in January 1994, and recently resigned as a director.

Mr O'Dwyer was a senior executive with VHI until six weeks ago. He became VHI assistant chief executive with overall responsibility for claims in 1994 and held that position until his resignation.

BUPA has also appointed Mr Niall Devereux as director of finance and company secretary. Mr Devereux, who is originally from Co Laois, was previously employed by BUPA International where he worked on overseas acquisitions and new ventures.