State energy company the ESB has announced two management appointments.

The group has appointed Paddy Hayes as executive director in charge of generation and wholesale markets.

Mr Hayes is a chartered engineer who joined the ESB in 1999 from British Steel. Since then he has worked in a number of senior positions throughout the company, including manager of its subsidiary Synergen, head of independent generation and manager of asset development and energy portfolio.

The organisation has also appointed Pat Naughton as executive director, group people and sustainability.

He is a mechanical engineer who has worked in the ESB since 1978.

Mr Naughton has held a number of senior positions within the group, including managing its hydro-electric power plants, portfolio development manager and human resources manager of ESB Energy International.