THE Cabinet has approved the appointment of Mr Bob Collins as the director general of RTE. Mr Collins takes up the position in April, when the present holder, Mr Joe Barry, retires.
Mr Collins was chosen by the RTE Authority last Tuesday, following a lengthy selection process. His name was then sent to the Government for approval. His appointment was widely predicted.
Mr Collins (49) takes over the £60,000 a year post at a time of financial difficulties at RTE and when the station is expected to face growing competition.
Hem was born in Killarney and grew up in Adare, Co Limerick. He was educated at CBS, Adare, and UCD, where he obtained a BA in philosophy and an MA in business administration.
He joined RTE in 1975 as secretary to the authority and has been involved in senior editorial levels since 1980.
He was appointed director of television programmes in 1986 director of corporate affairs in 1993 and assistant director general in 1995.
Mr Collins has been involved in European Broadcasting Union affairs and is president of the Television Committee.
He is a former president of the Celtic Film and Television Association and represents RTE on Comhairle Teilifis na Gaeilge.
Before joining RTE Mr Collins worked for the CII, Rehab and in Trinity College, Dublin.
His brother, Dan, is the chief executive of Radio Ireland, the commercial national radio station due to go on air in March.
Other senior RTE executives who made the shortlist were the head of news, Mr Joe Mulholland, the head of television programmes, Mr Liam Miller and the head of presentation and television services, Mr Eugene Murray.
