RTÉ appoints Kevin Bakhurst as director general

Kevin Bakhurst

Irish broadcaster RTÉ has named Kevin Bakhurst director general who succeeds Dee Forbes when she steps down from the position at the end of her term on July 11, 2023.

Bakhurst joins the role following an extensive and competitive recruitment process managed by the board, according to RTÉ. He will be responsible of taking the organisation forward in a rapidly evolving media landscape, while ensuring the broadcaster has a valued place in public life in Ireland.

Before leaving RTÉ in 2016, he was appointed managing director of News & Current Affairs in 2012 and was later promoted to deputy director general.

Bakhurst mostly recently served as group director, Broadcasting and Online at Ofcom where he was a member of Ofcom Board. He was tasked with setting Broadcast Strategy and Policy for UK broadcasting regulation, creating and implementing the framework for regulating the BBC, enforcing and developing editorial standards for UK broadcasters and leading work on the future of UK Public Service Broadcasting which has led directly to new government legislation. He has led Ofcom’s work on the UK’s new Online Safety Policy and built a team of around 350 to deliver it, including a new data and technology team, and in the process shaping the overall transformation of Ofcom to take on the new duties.

He has also held a range of senior editorial positions at the BBC, including Controller, BBC News Channel and Deputy Head, BBC Newsroom from 2005.

“I am honoured and delighted to take up the role of Director General. RTÉ plays a central role in Irish life and has brilliant people dedicated to delivering great and trusted content for audiences. RTÉ faces huge challenges and global competition, and I am confident we can deliver the ambitious change needed to remain valued and relevant to our audiences. I’m looking forward to getting started,” said Bakhurst.

RTÉ will confirm Bakhurst’s official start date as director general in due course.