The outgoing chair of the RTE authority will spend the next six months being shadowed by the Chair-designate Patrick J. Wright. His position, which will take effect immediately, was announced this week by Minister Sile deValera. The nine-member committee meets monthly and acts as RTE’s board, making policy and guiding corporate direction.
When the current Chairman, Dr. Farrell Corcoran completes his office in June 2000 Mr. Wright will become the next chairman of the authority. Best known for his position as President and Chief operations officer of the Jefferson Smurfit Group he was welcomed by the Minister who said, “I am delighted to welcome a person of Paddy Wright’s stature and experience to the RTE authority. His expertise will prove crucial to RTE in the testing times ahead.”
With the introduction of digital television dead ahead and the now infamous RTE staffing cuts due for the New Year there they will undoubtedly be testing times indeed. He is an eager proponent of digital television and speaking at a press conference this week he claimed to be “a grower rather than a cutter”. He was reluctant to discuss the staffing cuts until he had been fully briefed by the people involved and would like to think that his appointment will allow him to leave his mark on the station.
