Who is Terence O’Rourke, the man expected to be new chair of the RTÉ board?

Mr O’Rourke’s nomination was approved by the three leaders of the Coalition parties and Media Minister Catherine Martin will seek Cabinet approval for the appointment on Tuesday morning.

It was understood the former head of the HSE Paul Reid was also interested in the position.

With Mr O’Rourke announced as the replacement for Siún Ní Raghallaigh following her shock resignation from the RTÉ board, who is the man taking up the position of RTÉ chair?

A native of Inniskeen in County Monaghan, Mr O’Rourke graduated from UCD with a BA in economics and history.

He joined KPMG in 1975, became an audit partner in 1988 and was elected as managing director of the accountancy firm in 2006.

As managing director of the Big Four accountancy firm in Dublin, he served on the company’s global board and was also a senior member of their executive team.

As a former managing director of KPMG, Mr O’Rourke gave evidence before the inquiry into the banking crisis in 2015.

A fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, Mr O’Rourke served as president of the organisation from 2004 to 2005.

Currently a member of the Council of the Irish Management Institute, Mr O’Rourke has also been on the board of the Dublin Theatre Festival and the WXN Ireland Advisory Board.

As well as serving as chairman for the ESB, Mr O’Rourke is the chairman of Kinsale Capital Management and the Hugh Lane Gallery Trust.

He has also been on the boards of Hibernia Reit and The Irish Times.

During his time as a board member of Enterprise Ireland, Mr O’Rourke accepted the Outstanding Contribution to Irish Business award at the Business and Finance Award in 2022.

From October 2013 to June 2021, he was a member of DCU’s governing authority and the university awarded Mr O’Rourke with an honorary doctorate in October 2023.

Two additional new members are expected to be appointed to the RTÉ board by Cabinet alongside Mr O’Rourke on Tuesday morning.

Ms Ní Raghallaigh resigned as RTÉ board chair in February after Ms Martin did not express confidence in her during an appearance on RTÉ’s Prime Time.

The chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Brian Stanley TD has said PAC members will recommend RTÉ be put under the remit of Comptroller and Auditor General.