Mari Hurley announced as new RTÉ chief financial officer

The UCC graduate replaces Richard Collins as CFO, who resigned last October

Mari Hurley is due to take up her role as CFO in late summer, RTÉ said.

RTÉ has announced Mari Hurley as the broadcaster's new chief financial officer.

Ms Hurley replaces Richard Collins as CFO, who resigned last October.

Mr Collins was one of the RTÉ executives who appeared before Oireachtas committees to answer questions about the secret payment controversy that engulfed the broadcaster last summer.

In one committee appearance, Mr Collins said he was not sure what exactly he was paid, before stating it was “in and around” €200,000.

Controversy around his departure caused more scandal for RTÉ this month after it was revealed he was given an exit package worth €450,000.

Media Minister Catherine Martin said she had been misinformed by Siún Ní Raghallaigh about the exit packages paid to some senior executives in a live TV interview. Hours later, Ms Ní Raghallaigh resigned from her position.

Ms Hurley is due to take up her role as CFO in late summer, RTÉ said.

Her previous CFO roles include AA Ireland and Premier Lotteries Ireland (operator of the National Lottery) which are both regulated entities. She was also CFO of Hostelworld Group plc and Sherry FitzGerald Group.

Ms Hurley also has non-executive board experience in two of Ireland's leading semi-State entities. Currently a non-executive director of the National Asset Management Agency (Nama), Ms Hurley was also a non-executive director at Ervia until August 2021. She has served both bodies as chair of the audit and risk committee and chair of the credit and remuneration committees.

"I’m delighted to be joining RTÉ and its leadership team at this critical time for the organisation and for the future of public service media in Ireland," said Ms Hurley. 

"I look forward to working with the director-general, the RTÉ board, its audit and risk committee and the finance team to develop RTÉ’s financial strategy and to bring my experience of successfully leading and implementing change and transformation programmes to RTÉ, in line with the unique values and obligations of public service."

Director general Kevin Bakhurst said Ms Hurley was "a highly experienced CFO with extensive experience in setting and driving the strategic direction of global businesses".

"Mari’s broad corporate finance experience means she is skilled at embedding strong governance and controls in regulated businesses. Her proven deliveries in the development of systems for enhanced governance, control processes and provision of regular reporting, aligns strongly with RTÉ’s renewed mission around transparency, accountability and good governance."

A graduate of University College Cork, Ms Hurley has completed the executive management programme at Harvard Business School.