Senior BBC executive is RTÉ’s new head of news

A senior BBC news executive has been appointed head of news in RTÉ.

Kevin Bakhurst takes over the role following a troubled year for the state broadcaster after the ‘Mission to Prey’ defamation scandal, which forced the award-winning Prime Time Investigates off air.

The Londoner has been deputy head of the BBC Newsroom since 2010, overseeing BBC TV News, Radio News and the BBC News website.

Bakhurst’s CV also includes stints as editor of the Bafta winning BBC Ten O’Clock News between 2003 and 2005.

Noel Curran, RTÉ director general, said: “Kevin has huge and varied experience, a proven track record and key leadership skills.”

Mr Bakhurst said: “It’s an amazing opportunity to lead such a formidable team at RTÉ News and Current Affairs who rightly have a national and worldwide reputation for their journalism.”

The Mission to Prey programme claimed several editorial scalps in the fallout.

RTÉ’s former head of news Ed Mulhall took early retirement from the broadcaster before an inquiry was completed into the scandal.