RTÉ 2fm announced today that John McMahon, Head of 2fm, has decided to stand down as head of the station, confirming that he has not sought a renewal of his contract.
Speaking today, McMahon said: "Running 2fm has been both challenging and rewarding. Working with the great 2fm presenters and production teams during my time as station head has made every day an entertaining one. Events like the 2fm Toy Appeal for St Vincent de Paul, and the arrival earlier this year of live Champion’s League commentary and a nightly sports programme, have been notable high points.
"Just this week we saw the power of 2fm with Colm Hayes’s Cycle Against Suicide campaign. Days like that show me just how important this station remains. I want to pay tribute to the talented production staff, presenters and crew who make up 2fm. I’d like to thank them for a very exciting three years.
"As my time as station head ends, I am looking forward to getting back to the coal face of programme making and getting to work more directly with the hugely creative staff making programmes on RTÉ Radio.”
During McMahon’s time as station head, 2fm saw an influx of new presenters including Hector Ó hEochagáin and Ryan Tubridy, as well as a focus on developing new talent such as Paddy McKenna and Cormac Battle.
McMahon will now oversee the introduction of a multi-channel audio production project to centralise station sound and imaging on RTÉ Radio’s four fm and six digital radio stations. Over the coming months Mr. McMahon will also be engaged in programme projects on Radio 1 in a senior production capacity.
McMahon joined RTÉ in 1994 and was RTÉ’s first ever webmaster, setting up www.rte.ie in May 1996. He was a radio producer and editor of current affairs in RTÉ Radio 1, before working in TV scheduling until 2009, when he took up the role of Head of 2fm. Mr. McMahon will continue as Head of 2fm until a successor is in place.
RTÉ Radio will announce a new Head of 2fm in the coming weeks.
