RTÉ Board Overhauled

Kevin Bakhurst, the new director-general of RTÉ, has replaced the Irish pubcaster’s executive board with a temporary team.

The interim leadership includes Eimear Cusack, director of human resources; Vivienne Flood, head of public affairs; Mike Fives, group financial controller; Adrian Lynch, director of audiences, channels and marketing and acting deputy director-general; Paula Mullooly, director of legal; Deirdre McCarthy, director of news and current affairs; Niamh O’Connor, deputy director of content; Conor Mullen, head of strategy and commercial compliance, RTÉ Media Sales; and Richard Waghorn, director of operations and technology. Geraldine O’Leary, director of commercial, announced her early retirement following the announcement.

In an email to sfaff, Bakhurst said the organization’s interim and eventually permanent leadership will be focused on “listening,  being open and transparent, strictly adhering to revised and rigorous governance processes and procedures, being accountable and delivering a public service to be proud of.”

The salaries of the executive/permanent interim leadership team and the earnings of RTÉ’s ten highest-paid presenters will be detailed in the annual report, beginning with the 2023 edition.

RTÉ board chair Siún Ní Raghallaigh said the changes announced by Bakhurst are the “first steps in an ongoing process of change that will last for many months.”

The organization has been embroiled in controversy over the last few weeks following revelations of previously undeclared payments to presenter Ryan Tubridy, leading to the resignation of former DG Dee Forbes at the end of last month.

In an email to staff, Bakhurst noted: “I know that all of you are deeply upset and angry. RTÉ is full of talented and hard-working people who remain committed to delivering a vital public service to our audiences, and you have been let down by RTÉ management. I have heard many of your concerns already and I will continue to listen to what you have to say. I plan to be a visible and available director-general. I am currently scheduling in meetings with teams across the organization so that I get to meet as many of you as possible throughout this week and next. I hope to make it to Galway next week to meet with colleagues, including those in RTÉ Raidío na Gaeltachta and Nuacht RTÉ, and I’ll also meet with TG4 while I’m there. I’ll be in RTÉ Cork on Wednesday-week, meeting colleagues there. I’ll arrange a visit to our Limerick studios soon and to our regional offices.  Engaging with you, wherever you are, will be important to me throughout my time as director-general. Change will be essential if we are to rebuild trust in public service broadcasting in Ireland and in RTÉ.”