RTÉ has appointed a senior BBC manager to succeed Eithne Hand as the head of its flagship service Radio 1.
Ana Leddy is leaving her position as managing editor of BBC Radio Foyle in Derry to take up the position. She will be reporting to the head of radio at RTÉ Adrian Moynes.
Ms Leddy has 26 years experience in radio, with 18 years of these spent in BBC regional and national services. She was born and raised in Sheffield, England, in an Irish-speaking family. She received her secondary-school education in St Louis convent, Monaghan. Ms Leddy also has a degree in Irish, English and history from Trinity College Dublin.
"Moving to RTÉ will be like a new lease of life for me. I've known RTÉ Radio as a listener for many years and I'm really looking forward to working with so many talented people on such a precious channel," she said yesterday.
The main challenge for Ms Leddy will be the launch of digital radio over the next year. Another major challenge will be protecting the station's audience share which has been under pressure over the last five years.
Apart from the flagship programme Morning Ireland, most of the station's leading prime time programmes have been under pressure over the last few years.
The main part of the morning schedule is built around broadcaster Pat Kenny, who has also been losing audience. However, he remains a key broadcaster for the station and ratings at the Late, Late Show have been holding up.