Dee Forbes Becomes Director-General of RTÉ

DUBLIN: Dee Forbes, currently the president and managing director of Discovery Networks Northern Europe, has been tapped as the new director-general of Ireland’s RTÉ.

Forbes will assume her new role later this year after a transition period. She joined Discovery in 2010 as head of the U.K./Ireland operation, and expanded her responsibilities to eventually lead the Northern Europe region. Before joining Discovery, Forbes led Turner Broadcasting’s business in the U.K. and Ireland, and spent several years working at Turner in a variety of commercial roles.

Moya Doherty, chair of the board at RTÉ, said: “The appointment of Dee Forbes stands to mark a significant moment in the development of RTÉ. Not only is this the first director-general in almost 50 years to be appointed externally, but she will also be the first female to hold the role. RTÉ is at a pivotal moment, one where the future shape and financing of public service broadcasting is being reimagined. I am delighted to have someone with such a breadth of industry experience, such a creative and visionary understanding of the global broadcasting market, and a proven management record.”

Forbes said: “Although it was a tough professional decision to leave Discovery, the personal decision to return to Ireland and lead its biggest broadcaster, RTÉ, is an opportunity of a lifetime.”