The Director General is
chief executive
A chief executive officer (CEO), also known as a central executive officer (CEO), chief administrator officer (CAO) or just chief executive (CE), is one of a number of corporate executives charged with the management of an organization especially ...
and
editor-in-chief
An editor-in-chief (EIC), also known as lead editor or chief editor, is a publication's editorial leader who has final responsibility for its operations and policies.
The highest-ranking editor of a publication may also be titled editor, managing ...
of public service broadcaster
Raidió Teilifís Éireann
Raidi (; ; also written Ragdi; born August, 1938) is a Tibetan politician of the People's Republic of China. He served as a vice chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress from 2003 to 2008, and the highest ranking Tibeta ...
(RTÉ). The current director general is
Kevin Bakhurst
Kevin Bakhurst (born December 1965) is an English journalist and media executive who has been the Director General of RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, since July 2023. He previously served as the managing director of news and current affa ...
, who replaced
Dee Forbes
Deirdre Anne "Dee" Forbes (born 1 February 1967) has been the Director-General of RTÉ since April 2016. She is the first woman to hold the role, and the first external appointment in almost 50 years. Prior to joining RTÉ, she was President & Ma ...
in the role in 2023.
Appointment and role
The
RTÉ Board
The RTÉ Board is an eight-member body which makes policy and guiding corporate direction for RTÉ, Ireland's state public broadcaster.
History
The Board, then known as the RTÉ Authority, was established as the Radio Éireann Authority under the ...
appoints the director general of RTÉ, who fulfils the roles of both chief executive officer and of editor-in-chief
Kevin Bakhurst
Kevin Bakhurst (born December 1965) is an English journalist and media executive who has been the Director General of RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, since July 2023. He previously served as the managing director of news and current affa ...
disbanded the executive on 10 July 2023 in the wake of the
RTÉ secret payment scandal, which comprised the company's top management. 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".
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.
2023 controversy
In
June 2023, RTÉ admitted that it paid its top presenter
Ryan Tubridy
Ryan Tubridy (born 28 May 1973), nicknamed 'Tubs
' is an Irish broadcaster. He presents ''The Ryan Tubridy Show'' and '' The Late Late Show''.
Tubridy previously presented RTÉ 2fm breakfast radio show ''The Full Irish'', which at its end was ...
€345,000 more than publicly declared between 2017 and 2022.
Dee Forbes
Deirdre Anne "Dee" Forbes (born 1 February 1967) has been the Director-General of RTÉ since April 2016. She is the first woman to hold the role, and the first external appointment in almost 50 years. Prior to joining RTÉ, she was President & Ma ...
was suspended as Director General a day prior to the controversy, and ultimately resigned with immediate effect on 26 June.
Adrian Lynch, Director of Channels & Marketing, was appointed to the position of Deputy Director General;
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
Kevin Bakhurst (born December 1965) is an English journalist and media executive who has been the Director General of RTÉ, the Irish national broadcaster, since July 2023. He previously served as the managing director of news and current affa ...
into that role in July 2023.
Directors General
References
External links
History of Irish Public Service Broadcasting - Timeline
{{DEFAULTSORT:Director General of RTE