Director General of RTÉ

The Director General is chief executive and editor-in-chief of public service broadcaster Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ). The current director general is Kevin Bakhurst, who replaced Dee Forbes in the role in 2023.[1]

Director General (CEO and editor-in-chief) of RTÉ
Incumbent
Kevin Bakhurst
since 10 July 2023
Member ofRTÉ Board
RTÉ Executive Board
Reports toRTÉ Board
AppointerRTÉ Board
Formation1960
First holderEdward J. Roth
DeputyAdrian Lynch
Salary€306,000

Appointment and role

The RTÉ Board appoints the director general of RTÉ, who fulfils the roles of both chief executive officer and of editor-in-chief

Kevin Bakhurst disbanded the executive on 10 July 2023 in the wake of the RTÉ secret payment scandal,[2] which comprised the company's top management.[3] It was replaced by an interim leadership team.

The director general both reports to the board and sits on it "in an ex officio capacity".[4] At this time, the director general serves a term of five years (reduced from seven years), at the expiry of which he/she may ask for an extension.[5]

2023 controversy

In June 2023, RTÉ admitted that it paid its top presenter Ryan Tubridy €345,000 more than publicly declared between 2017 and 2022.[6][7] Dee Forbes was suspended as Director General a day prior to the controversy,[8] and ultimately resigned with immediate effect on 26 June.[9] Adrian Lynch, Director of Channels & Marketing, was appointed to the position of Deputy Director General;[10] he also assumed the role of interim Director General following the suspension and resignation of Forbes and prior to the planned arrival of Kevin Bakhurst into that role in July 2023.  

Directors General
NameYears served
Edward J. Roth1960 – 1962
Kevin McCourt1962 – 1968
Thomas P. Hardiman1968 – 1975
Oliver Maloney1975 – 1978
George T. Waters1978 – 1985
Vincent Finn1985 – 1992
Joe Barry1992 – 1997
Bob Collins1997 – 2003[11]
Cathal Goan2003 – 2010
Noel Curran2011 – 2016[12]
Dee Forbes2016 – 2023[13]
Kevin Bakhurst 2023 – present[1]

References
  1. "RTÉ Appoints Kevin Bakhurst as Next Director General". RTÉ. 18 April 2023. Retrieved 18 April 2023.
  2. Bakhurst, Kevin (10 July 2023). "A message from Kevin Bakhurst, Director-General, RTÉ". RTÉ about.rte.ie. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  3. "Members of the RTÉ Executive Board". RTÉ Press Centre. Archived from the original on 17 September 2009. Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  4. "Oireachtas Communications Committee Ratifies New Members of RTÉ Board and Broadcasting Authority of Ireland". Oireachtas. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  5. Eamon Ryan (9 November 2010). "Minister Ryan welcomes appointment of Noel Curran as new Director General of RTÉ". Retrieved 13 February 2011.
  6. Goodbody, Will (22 June 2023). "RTÉ admits paying Tubridy €345,000 more than declared". RTÉ News. Retrieved 22 June 2023.
  7. "Statement by the RTÉ Board – June 22, 2023". rte.ie. 22 June 2023. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  8. Burnhill, Eleanor (23 June 2023). "Minister made aware of Forbes suspension yesterday". RTÉ.ie. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
  9. "RTÉ Director General Dee Forbes resigns amid payments controversy". RTÉ News. 26 June 2023. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  10. Woods, Killian (22 June 2023). "RTÉ appoints new deputy director general". The Sunday Business Post. Retrieved 24 June 2023.
  11. "Director General announces he will step down in October 2003". RTÉ Press Centre. Archived from the original on 24 February 2007. Retrieved 5 July 2010.
  12. "Curran named as RTÉ's next Director General". RTÉ. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 9 November 2010.
  13. "RTÉ appoints Dee Forbes as Director General, RTÉ". RTÉ. 6 April 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2010.
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