New Appointments to the Board of Vhi Healthcare

April 30th, 2008 – Vhi Healthcare today announced that Mary Harney, Minister for Health & Children has appointed Mr Jimmy Tolan and Mr Declan Moran to the Board of Vhi Healthcare with effect from 1st May 2008.

Mr Jimmy Tolan , Chief Executive , Vhi Healthcare will replace Vincent Sheridan who has retired as Chief Executive and Mr Declan Moran, Director of Marketing and Business Development will replace Pat Farrell, who recently retired as a Non –Executive Director at the end of his term of office.

Jimmy Tolan takes up his position as Chief Executive of Vhi Healthcare on the 1st May 2008. Jimmy Tolan was Chief Executive Officer of Fyffes plc since January 2007. He was previously Corporate Development Director and managed Fyffes acquisition function since 1993. Jimmy Tolan is a qualified accountant, having trained with KPMG. He has a B.Comm Degree and a Diploma in Professional Accounting from University College Dublin.

Declan Moran is Director of Marketing and Business Development with Vhi Healthcare. He joined Vhi Healthcare in 1997. He is responsible for the management of Vhi Healthcare’s product portfolio, development of new products and services and provision of actuarial expertise within the organisation. Declan Moran has a BSc in Computer Science and is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries since 1994.

Commenting on the new appointments, Mr Bernard Collins, Chairman, Vhi Healthcare, said, "I would like to welcome both Jimmy and Declan to the Board of Vhi Healthcare and believe that the increased executive participation at Board level is a positive development."

Vhi Healthcare is the largest health insurer in Ireland and is one of the country's most recognised and trusted household brands.

ENDS