The chief financial officer of Ireland's national broadcaster, RTÉ, is set to leave her post this spring, a move described as a "big loss" by the country's Media Minister.
Minister Praises CFO's Impact on Financial Transparency
Mari Hurley will depart after a tenure of approximately 18 months, a period marked by significant efforts to address legacy financial problems within the organisation. Her resignation was confirmed by RTÉ on the evening of Thursday, 15 January 2026.
Minister for the Arts and Media, Patrick O'Donovan, expressed his disappointment, stating Ms Hurley had done "a really, really good job" in difficult circumstances. He credited her directly for bringing critical financial issues to light.
"She was asked by my department... to go through the organisation accounts," Minister O'Donovan said during an interview on RTÉ Radio. "And it was on the foot of her work that we learned... with regard to the issue of the art at RTÉ, the top-up payments to widows and previous other financial issues."
A Stewardship During Turbulent Times
Hurley was appointed in the summer of 2024, stepping into a role at a broadcaster still reeling from a series of financial scandals. These controversies had led to the resignation of former director general Dee Forbes and the exit of top-paid presenter Ryan Tubridy.
Bringing extensive experience from senior financial roles at AA Ireland, Premier Lotteries Ireland, Hostelworld Group, and Sherry FitzGerald Group, she was tasked with steering RTÉ's finances towards greater stability and transparency.
Minister O'Donovan emphasised the significance of her work, noting she had unearthed issues that had been "lurking around out there for donkey's years." He added, "I know Mari Hurley has made – in a very short period of time – a very big mark with regard to financial transparency."
Legacy and Future Moves
In her own statement, Mari Hurley expressed confidence in RTÉ's ongoing transformation and its vital public service role. "The extensive work we have done during my time in RTÉ has been an important part of the delivery of greater governance across the organisation," she stated.
Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ's Director General, paid tribute to her contribution during a "challenging time," saying her meticulous work on legacy issues had helped put the broadcaster "back on a financially sustainable path."
Reports on Friday, 16 January 2026, indicated that Hurley's next move will be to property giant Irish Residential Properties REIT. Minister O'Donovan concluded by wishing her well, acknowledging that people leave leadership roles in public companies for various reasons, but reiterating that "she will be a big loss" to RTÉ.
