The director general is the 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]
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]
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.