Newstalk has appointed Ocean FM head Tim Collins as its chief executive, subject to regulatory approval. As well as leading Northwest-based Ocean FM, Mr Collins is a consultant to Northern Media Group, the largest local radio business in the North. He is also a director of the Independent Broadcasters of Ireland.

Mr Collins has been active in the media sector for more than a decade, having led the bid for the licence won by Ocean FM in 2004. He was also involved in the establishment of Northern Media Group and of River Media newspapers, the local media group.

He worked at RTE for a time in the 1980s before becoming a political adviser to then junior environment minister Mary Harney. He is also a former Labour Party councillor and has advised Labour minister Brendan Howlin, as well as working in public affairs at Drury Communications.

Mr Collins, a qualified medical doctor and barrister, will take up his new role at the start of January. His predecessor at Newstalk was Gerard Whelan, who resigned in February last year.