RTÉ’s director of content Jim Jennings to leave the broadcaster

By Cate McCurry, PA

RTÉ has said that Jim Jennings, the broadcaster’s director of content, will leave the organisation next week.

In an internal note sent to RTÉ staff on Thursday, director general Kevin Bakhurst said they were able to reach an agreement around the terms of Mr Jennings’ departure “with the support of the Workplace Relations Commission”.

The terms of the disclosure were not confirmed in the statement.

Mr Jennings was a member of RTÉ’s executive board up to last year, when the payments scandal around Ryan Tubridy first emerged.

Mr Jennings had served under the former RTÉ director general Dee Forbes.

He had been on leave for health reasons since last summer and did not attend the Oireachtas committee hearings into the pay scandal.

Mr Jennings joined RTÉ in 1985 as a researcher and subsequently worked as a television producer/director before becoming head of RTÉ Radio 1.

He took up the role of director of content in 2017.

In a note to RTÉ staff, Mr Bakhurst said: “I would like to let you know that Jim Jennings will leave RTÉ on August 31st.

“I would like to thank Jim for his long service to RTE and his great contribution to the organisation and public service media for almost 40 years.

“Jim leaves at a time when the organisation is redefining the audio and visual briefs as part of RTÉ’s new strategy.

“I am pleased we have been able to reach agreement around the terms of his departure with the support of the Workplace Relations Commission.

“I wish Jim the very best for the future.”