RTÉ's business editor, Will Goodbody, is set to leave the State-owned broadcaster to join AIB as head of external communications in February.
“A highly experienced business editor and journalist, Will brings with him significant financial sector expertise having covered Irish banking for many years, and over two decades of media experience,” AIB said in a statement, confirming the appointment.
Mr Goodbody will succeed fellow former journalist, Kathleen Barrington, who is retiring from the bank.
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He joined RTÉ's two decades ago, having previously worked for Virgin Media Ireland and the Business Post.
Mr Goodbody will be joining AIB shortly before the bank publishes annual results in early March.
AIB, led by chief executive Colin Hunt, is forecasting that its net interest income will amount to about €4 billion this year, up from €3.84 million in 2023, as it benefits from loan book growth even as the European Central Bank (ECB) started cutting interest rates in June.
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The main initial direct impact from the ECB rate cuts has been on AIB’s surplus deposits lodged with the Central Bank as well as its tracker mortgage book.
AIB’s loan book rose 5 per cent over the first nine months of the year, increasing to €70.4 billion, and the bank upgraded growth guidance for the year to between 5 and 6 per cent.
New lending was 17 per cent higher at €10 billion for the period. Some 35 per cent of new lending was categorised as “green” lending.
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