The EBU is pleased to announce the appointment of Noel Curran (Ireland) to succeed Ingrid Deltenre as its new Director General. Mr Curran is expected to take up the position at the beginning of September.

Noel Curran is the former DG, Managing Director of Television and Editor of Current Affairs of RTÉ, Ireland's national television and radio broadcaster. As Director General, he radically restructured RTÉ following the financial crisis that began at the end of 2008 and successfully positioned RTÉ as a robust digital media organization. A strong and long-time advocate of public service media, Curran is also an award winning investigative journalist and producer.

"We are delighted to welcome Noel Curran as the new Director General of the EBU", said Jean-Paul Philippot, President of the EBU (RTBF/BE). "Noel was the candidate of choice in what was an extremely strong list of candidates. He impressed us with his sound public service values, his operational experience and his understanding of the public service media ecosystem within today's rapidly evolving media environment. His leadership experience as Director General of RTÉ will be invaluable as the EBU moves towards the next chapter in its history. I am confident he will do a very good job for the EBU, for all our Members, and for public service media."

Commenting on his new appointment, Noel Curran said, "There is now, more than ever, a compelling case for what public service media does, and what the Members of the European Broadcasting Union do, day in, day out. The EBU represents some of the finest media organizations, content-makers and journalists in the world. The position of DG is a huge honour, and I will work with the membership to seize every opportunity and to move ahead with the changes necessary to secure the future of public service media. I look forward to working with Jean-Paul, with the EBU team and with our Members, from all regions in the EBU, to serve our audiences' needs."

Noel Curran replaces Ingrid Deltenre, who has led the EBU since 2010, and who decided to step down this year to focus her attention on her Board responsibilities.

Noel Curran's biography:

Noel attended Trinity College, Dublin, and graduated from Dublin City University in both European Studies and Communications, specialising in national and international broadcasting policy. He was Managing Director of RTÉ Television before becoming Director General of RTÉ in 2010. Responsible for four television services, nine radio services, and Ireland's biggest digital media products, Noel led RTÉ at a challenging time of editorial and financial crisis, bringing the organisation back to financial surplus and championing the return of award-winning investigative journalism. Overseeing RTÉ's substantial commercial trading arms, he positioned RTÉ for digital transformation despite severe financial constraints. As an editor and producer, Noel's programming won numerous awards for journalism and he was Executive Producer on a range of live television events, including the Eurovision Song Contest in 1997, general election coverage, live entertainment series and factual programming. He is Adjunct Professor of Journalism at Dublin City University.

Noel is married to the singer and former Eurovision Song Contest winner Eimear Quinn and they have two daughters.