Noel Curran, new director general of the EBU

Ingrid Deltenre's replacement was general director, executive director of Television and Current Affairs editor of the Irish RTÉ.

Starting next September, Irishman Noel Curran will succeed Ingrid Deltenre as the general directorate of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).

Curran was Managing Director, Executive Director of Television and Current Editor of RTÉ, Ireland's national television and radio broadcaster. As CEO, he carried out a profound restructuring of RTÉ following the financial crisis that began in late 2008, and successfully built RTÉ into a strong digital media organization. A long-time strong advocate for public media, Noel Curran is also an award-winning investigative journalist and producer.

Jean-Paul Philippot, presidente de la UER (RTBF/BE) ha destacado que “Noel fue el candidato elegido de una lista de candidatos sumamente fuertes. Nos impresionó con sus sólidos valores de servicio público, su experiencia operativa y su conocimiento del ecosistema de los medios de comunicación públicos en el actual entorno mediático que tan rápido evoluciona. Su experiencia directiva como director general de RTÉ tendrá un valor incalculable conforme la UER se adentre en el próximo capítulo de su historia. Tengo la certeza de que desempeñará una muy buena labor para la UER, para todos nuestros Miembros y para los medios de comunicación públicos”.

Noel Curran acknowledges that "now more than ever there is a compelling reason to show what public media, and what Members of the European Broadcasting Union do, day in and day out. The EBU represents some of the best media organisations, content creators and journalists in the world. The role of Director General is a huge honour, and I will work with Members to seize every opportunity to deliver the changes needed to secure the future of public media. I look forward to working with Jean-Paul, with the EBU team and with our Members, from all EBU regions, to address the needs of our audiences.”

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

Long career in television

The executive studied at Trinity College Dublin and graduated from the University of Dublin in both European Studies and Communication, specializing in national and international broadcasting policy. Before becoming CEO of RTÉ in 2010, he served as CEO of RTÉ Television. Noel, who was responsible for four television services, nine radio services and Ireland's main digital media products, led RTÉ through a difficult time of editorial and financial crisis, although he returned the organization to the path of economic surplus and championed the recovery of award-winning investigative journalism. By overseeing RTÉ's most significant trading sections, he positioned the broadcaster to undertake digital transformation despite severe financial constraints. As editor and producer, Noel's programming won numerous journalism awards, and he executive produced a number of live television events, including the 1997 Eurovision Song Contest, general election coverage, live entertainment programs and factual programming. He is an Associate Professor of Journalism at the University of Dublin.

Noel is married to the singer and former Eurovision Song Contest winner, Eimear Quinn, with whom he has two daughters.