RTE’s director-general Kevin Bakhurst has commented on the exit arrangements for four former executives at Ireland’s national broadcaster.
Director of commercial Geraldine O’Leary, director of legal affairs Paula Mullooly, director of strategy Rory Coveney and chief financial officer Richard Collins left RTE last year following Mr Bakhurst’s appointment.
In a statement on Saturday, Mr Bakhurst said he was making what comment he could following legal advice in the interests of transparency, and with the agreement of the four people concerned.
“Geraldine O’Leary retired from RTE, and her role as director of commercial, and did not receive an exit payment,” he said.
“Paula Mullooly decided to leave RTE, and her role as director of legal affairs, to pursue another opportunity and did not receive an exit payment.
“Rory Coveney and I agreed that it was best that he stand down from his role as director of strategy. This enabled the beginning of the restructuring of the leadership team and the suppression of his role. Responsibility for strategy has passed to Adrian Lynch, with no additional compensation, in addition to his substantive role as director of audience, channels and marketing.
“Rory’s role became redundant, an exit payment was offered by RTE and accepted by Rory, and with no backfill being made RTE will recoup that payment by July of this year.”
Mr Bakhurst went on: “Following independent mediation, Richard Collins, RTE’s former chief financial officer, departed RTE by mutual agreement, with a binding confidentiality clause that was agreed to by both sides and in the interest of fairness and respect cannot be breached.
“As I have said before, in relation to all the exits, I have sought an update to the legal advice previously received.”
