Lotus Development has appointed Mr Tommy Drummond business development manager for Ireland. Previously Lotus's operations manager for central Europe, he is the first appointment in a push to establish a dedicated sales presence in Ireland.

Traditionally, Lotus's Irish customer base has been supported from Britain, but following a significant increase in Irish corporate interest in the Internet and electronic commerce, demand for Lotus Notes and Domino products has escalated. Mr Drummond has been appointed to plan Lotus's Irish sales strategy and ultimately offer more local sales support and services. Lotus already employs 550 people at its Santry facility in Dublin.