Media executive Kevin Bakhurst has been appointed as the next Director General of RTÉ.
He will take over the role from Dee Forbes, whose current term ends in July.
In a statement, the broadcaster said the appointment followed an "extensive and competitive recruitment process which was managed by the RTÉ Board".
Mr Bakhurst said he is honoured and delighted to take up the role and was "confident" that despite the huge challenges and global competition RTÉ faces, it can deliver "the ambitious change needed to remain valued and relevant to our audiences".
This appointment had been subject to intense media speculation, with some reports suggesting division on the RTÉ Board about the appointment.
But in a statement, RTÉ Chairperson Siún Ní Raghailligh said the appointment followed a competitive recruitment process, with Mr Bakhurst as the unanimous choice of the RTÉ Board.
She said he brings "an exceptional breadth of industry experience, great leadership skills and a passionate commitment to the development of public service broadcasting in all its forms".
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Minister for Media Catherine Martin congratulated Mr Bakhurst on his appointment.
In a statement, she said: "I wish to congratulate Kevin Bakhurst on being appointed by RTÉ as its next Director General.
"Mr Bakhurst will take over this role at an important and challenging time for RTÉ. He has a proven track record of leadership at the highest levels and will bring a wealth of experience to the role."
Born in the UK, Mr Bakhurst began his media career with the BBC, where his roles included editing the BBC Ten O'Clock news.
He was on the BBC's London Olympics 2012 committee, which was responsible for co-ordinating the BBC's coverage of the London Olympics.
He also worked as controller of the BBC News Channel and was Deputy Head of the BBC Newsroom from 2010-2012.
In 2012, Kevin Bakhurst moved to Ireland where he was appointed Managing Director of News and Current affairs at RTÉ.
He remained in that position until 2016, and also served as Deputy Director General.
Later, he returned to the UK where he was appointed Group Director, Broadcasting and Online content at the communications regulator Ofcom.
His responsibilities there included the regulation of broadcast, online and content policy and he also leads Ofcom's online safety team.
Mr Bakhurst studied Modern Languages at St John's College, Cambridge.
