Public relations executive Mary Finan has been appointed chairwoman of the RTÉ Authority, the Government announced yesterday.
Ms Finan replaces Fintan Drury, another public relations executive, who stepped down in January after potential conflicts of interest arose over his involvement in the Ryder Cup.
The RTÉ Authority makes the major strategic decisions on behalf of the station and acts effectively as its board. However, day-to-day decisions are made by a local management team, led by director general Cathal Goan.
Ms Finan has had a long career in marketing, business and public relations. She has worked closely with some of Ireland's most prominent business people, including Dr Michael Smurfit.
Minister for Communications Noel Dempsey said she would bring a wealth of experience in business generally and communications in particular. "She is a very successful business person and is involved in many worthy organisations on a voluntary basis. I would like to wish her well in her new role," he said.
Ms Finan is a native of Roscommon and was educated at UCD where she obtained a BA degree. She later completed a marketing management programme at the Harvard Business School.
Ms Finan was one of the founding partners of Wilson Hartnell public relations and is now its chairwoman. She already sits on a range of boards. She is chairwoman of the Economic and Social Research Institute and a member of the council of the Dublin Docklands Development Authority.
She is a director of Canada Life (Ireland), the ICS Building Society, Opera Ireland, the Gate Theatre, the Irish Chamber Orchestra, the Cheshire Foundation, the Tyrone Guthrie Centre at Annaghmakerrig, the Dublin City University Educational Trust, the UCD Clinton Institute for American Studies and the Buildings of Ireland Charitable Trust. She was first woman president of Dublin Chamber of Commerce.