RTE DIRECTOR Daire Hickey has officially resigned from the broadcasting board, it was confirmed last night.
RTE said Hickey wrote to new Minister for Media Patrick O’Donovan to notify him of his resignation.
Daire Hickey has left the RTE board[/caption]
Hickey has served as a member of the RTE board since July 2021.
Speaking on behalf of the board, Chair Terence O’Rourke said Hickey had been a member of the board through “some of the most challenging years” in the history of the organisation.
He added: “He has taken the decision now to stand down to concentrate on other commitments.”
“We thank him for his service.”
Hickey took to LinkedIn to share his own statement of resignation, telling how he started his career in 2007 as a researcher on Saturday Night with Miriam.
He said it has been a “great honour” to work with RTE over the last 16 years.
Hickey said: “Public service broadcasting has never been more important – as a trusted source of news, a platform for Irish storytelling, and a champion of our culture and creative community.
“These past years have only deepened my conviction about RTE’s vital role in our society.”
Revealing the reasoning behind the decision to step down from the board, Hickey admitted that there is a limit to “how many plates one can spin”.
He explained: “Mark and I welcomed our son Finn on December 27th, 150Bond is growing faster than ever, and I’ve recently joined the board of Ómós, which is set for an exciting year.
“With a few other projects on the horizon that will need my attention, I’ve made the difficult decision to step down.
“Being based in New York, I certainly won’t miss those 5am virtual board meetings – although I may have just swapped them for 5am feeds.”
Hickey had been set to remain as a director at the board until July 2026.
‘WE’LL MISS YOUR CONTRIBUTION’
Not only had he worked as a journalist with RTE, he is also the co-founder of the Web Summit with Paddy Cosgrave.
He is also the founder of PR firm 150Bond, with staff based in both Dublin and New York.
On top of this, he recently joined the board at Omos which are working to establish a restaurant, guesthouse and farm in Abbeyleix.
The director general Kevin Bakhurst also shared a farewell post for Hickey, thanking him for his contribution to the broadcaster.
He posted: “We’ll miss your contribution hugely Daire – thank you for your insights and huge commitment.
“Best of luck and all good wishes to you, Mark and Finn – and with the growing businesses.
