RTÉ announces new commercial director in wake of pay scandal

Gavin Deans replaces Geraldine O’Leary, who announced in the summer that she was taking early retirement.

Gavin Deans has been announced as RTÉ's new commercial director, the broadcaster announced on Friday.  

He will take up the role in February 2024 and replaces Geraldine O’Leary, who announced in the summer that she was taking early retirement with immediate effect.

Ms O'Leary was one of the RTÉ executives who faced a grilling at a number of Oireachtas committees in the wake of the Ryan Tubridy pay scandal. 

RTÉ under-reported the salary paid to Mr Tubridy and failed to disclose €345,000 of additional payments to him between 2017 and 2022.

Ms O'Leary brought her retirement forward in July, stating: "I recognise that a fresh leadership team, starting today, is vital as [director general] Kevin Bakhurst sets out to renew RTÉ, and I have agreed to facilitate that.”

Mr Deans, who was previously sales director for Communicorp and managing director for Media Central, will "lead the development of a new commercial strategy for RTÉ, optimising revenues for reinvestment in public service media through an evolution of RTÉ’s revenue streams, markets, and strategic partnerships."

Commenting on the announcement, Mr Deans said: "RTÉ holds a special place in Ireland’s media landscape. I am genuinely inspired by its commitment to delivering high-quality content and serving the needs of the public. 

"At the same time, I understand the challenges that RTÉ and the media sector face. As I set about the task of evolving a best-in-class commercial strategy for Ireland’s national public service media, my focus, and that of my new colleagues in RTÉ, will be to deliver the maximum amount of revenue possible to safeguard RTÉ’s public service portfolio for current and future generations.” 

RTÉ director general Kevin Bakhurst said he is "delighted to welcome Gavin to RTÉ and to the leadership team."

"As we prepare to deliver a new strategic vision for RTÉ, the role of our commercial division will be critical. 

"As a dual-funded broadcaster, the monies we generate from our content is re-invested into the creation of new content. Commercial revenue will be an essential pillar of a sustainable RTÉ and, with his unparalleled experience as an innovator in the sector, I am confident that our excellent commercial team will have a leader that can drive results for RTÉ, and for the audiences we serve," he said.

In the wake of the pay scandal at RTÉ, Mr Bakhurst announced a new interim leadership team last July and said that a new permanent leadership team would be introduced "in due course".