IAWS has appointed Mr Patrick McEniff as its new finance director as part of its management restructuring.

Mr McEniff has been with the company since 1989, and replaces Mr David Martin, who will be retiring after 22 years in the job.

IAWS, whose brands include Cuisine de France, Roma, Shamrock and IAWS fertilisers, has repositioned itself significantly over the past five years, as its business has changed from being an agricultural group on the domestic market to predominantly a food group with interests in North America, Britain and Ireland.

This is the second major appointment this month, following Mr Tom O'Mahony's promotion to chief operations officer last week.

The group appointed a new chairman and chief executive officer in August, 2003.

The acquisition of the popular convenience food brand Cuisine de France in 1997 provided the catalyst for IAWS' change of direction.

Mr McEniff is a chartered accountant who was previously involved in the acquisition of convenience food company Pierre's and was finance director of Cuisine de France.

Mr Martin will continue as a non-executive director at the food group.