Today FM chief executive Willie O’Reilly is joining RTÉ on 1 January 2012 to take up the new position of group commercial director.
O’Reilly, who will join RTÉ’s executive board and report to director general Noel Curran, will lead all divisional and cross-divisional commercial staff and operations at the organisation.
O’Reilly, who has been chief executive of Today FM since 1999, has worked in broadcasting for almost 30 years. For 10 years, he worked at RTÉ as executive producer of The Gerry Ryan Show.
He is a former president of the Institute of Directors and recently graduated as a chartered director.
He has been a board member of the HSE and a member of that organisation’s audit committee. He has also been chairman of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland.
“Leading the commercial effort at Ireland’s leading national media organisation is an exciting challenge which I am very pleased to take on,” he said.
“All of us in media are required to be innovative, vigorous and exceptionally focused in driving revenue performance at this most difficult of times economically. RTÉ’s breadth of service delivery and the popularity of its content provide an excellent foundation for commercial performance that can help maintain and secure Irish public media at the centre of national life.
“My own background both at RTÉ and in the national commercial sector is one which has entailed building the strongest commercial partnerships around consistency and quality in content delivery.”
Curran said the appointment strengthened RTÉ’s senior management team. “He brings with him a wealth of commercial media experience in the private sector and a real appreciation of RTÉ’s unique role in this market.
“Willie has a strong track record of leadership, innovation and success in building commercial performance in a media company. He understands broadcasting and the new media technologies. He also has senior experience in the wider public and private sectors.”
Article courtesy of Businessandleadership.com
