'I have no fear': 2FM boss dismisses crisis claims after presenter exodus

All publicity is good publicity was the view Mr Healy took to the perceived crisis at 2FM which made the headlines yet again when Jennifer Zamparelli (pictured) became the fourth presenter to announce her decision to leave on Thursday. Photo: Moya Nolan

The head of 2FM has insisted he has "no fear" there is a crisis at the station despite four high-profile presenters announcing their departures in recent weeks.

Dan Healy insisted that the radio station still has a role to play and is central to the overall transformation that RTÉ is undergoing.

"I have no fear," Mr Healy said in a tense interview which saw the radio boss become agitated on a number of occasions.

All publicity is good publicity was the view Mr Healy took to the perceived crisis at 2FM which made the headlines yet again when Jennifer Zamparelli became the fourth presenter to announce her decision to leave on Thursday.

The 2 Johnnies made their announcement earlier this week while Doireann Garrihy declared she would leave her show in early May.

When asked about his claims last month that rumours of Zamparelli's departure were "bullshit", Mr Healy told Today with Claire Byrne on RTÉ Radio 1 that he believed his statement to be true at that time.

He said that each presenter had their own reasons for leaving and said that the situation was "nuanced". He dismissed any talk that the station could potentially close down as a result of the presenter exodus.

"To go from people leaving the station to closing it down is nuts."

While 2FM is continuing its efforts to grow its younger audience, Mr Healy said that it would be naive to think that the loss of the presenters would not have an impact on listenership in the short term.

He revealed that Laura Fox would replace Zamparelli and cited a number of other young talents already working at the station. Further plans for replacements and the summer line-up would be shared next Friday.

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New rules that have been brought into place at the national broadcaster surrounding external activities undertaken by presenters will not make future recruitment more difficult, according to Mr Healy.

He agreed that new presenters would be subject to a salary cap, would have to seek permission for all external activity, have to report how much they are being paid for any such work and have to sign a register of interest listing all activities they are involved in outside of RTÉ.

Mr Healy said that despite such regulations, "there is no place better" for young, up-and-coming influencers and media personalities than 2FM.