RTÉ has appointed Annemarie Britz as its new chief financial officer. She will take up the post in autumn 2026 after a public competition. The move follows the January departure of the broadcaster's current CFO, Mari Hurley.
A finance chief with central bank credentials
Annemarie Britz arrives at RTÉ from the Central Bank of Ireland, where she is director of finance and business performance. She joined the Central Bank in 2019 as head of the Financial Control Division and was promoted to her present role in 2024.
Before her time in Dublin, Ms Britz spent much of her career in South Africa. She worked in several chief financial officer roles in the private sector there, and later moved into public central banking in 2014 when she joined the Reserve Bank of South Africa.
At the Reserve Bank of South Africa she served as deputy chief financial officer from 2014 to 2016, then as deputy head of financial markets from 2016 to 2019. Those posts gave her both operational finance experience and exposure to central-bank balance-sheet issues.
That mix of private and central-bank experience is quite rare for a public-broadcaster CFO. It means she brings skills in budgeting, accounting and public-sector financial controls — all areas RTÉ has said it needs as it reshapes its finances.
What RTÉ says — and what Britz says back
Kevin Bakhurst, director-general of RTÉ, welcomed the appointment and described Ms Britz as offering "a wealth of experience" that will help RTÉ through its transformation and toward a sustainable financial path. He added he looked forward to her joining the leadership team.
Ms Britz said she was privileged to join RTÉ at "such a turning point" and that she believes deeply in the broadcaster's public mission to reflect Irish life. "I look forward to playing my part in an organisation with so many people who are committed to delivering on that mission every single day," she said.
Her comments underline a desire to combine public-service values with tighter financial management. The job will test if those goals can actually work together, especially at a broadcaster under public scrutiny and tight budgets.
Why the appointment matters for RTÉ and for Ireland
RTÉ is Ireland's main public-service broadcaster and its finances attract political as well as public attention. A chief financial officer is central to how the organisation budgets, reports and responds to funding challenges — from licence-fee debates to commercial income and cost controls.
Britz's stint at the Central Bank gives her direct experience of EU-level fiscal committees. She represents the Central Bank on the Budget Committee of the European Central Bank, she is a member of the global network of central bank CFOs, and she served on the ECB's Accounting and Monetary Income Committee. Those roles mean she is used to complex accounting rules, cross-border reporting and the technical side of public-sector finance.
That expertise could prove useful where RTÉ must navigate funding arrangements that touch on both national politics and European standards for public accounting. It also matters for transparency: central-bank accounting tends to be rigorous, and RTÉ's finances have been under close scrutiny in recent years.
And the appointment will be watched in political circles. Lawmakers have probed RTÉ's budget decisions before. Having a CFO with central-bank experience might reassure some policymakers that financial controls will be tightened and reporting improved.
Immediate operational and personnel questions
RTÉ said it will inform staff about an interim arrangement before the current CFO, Mari Hurley, leaves. Ms Hurley announced her departure in January 2026 to take up a new position at Irish Residential Properties REIT.
The announcement raises the practical question of handover: how the incoming CFO will pick up audit cycles, capital plans and any ongoing financial reviews. Those are technical but important details. They determine how quickly any new financial regime can take hold.
Practically speaking, the autumn start date gives a window for transition. It also means the new CFO will arrive as RTÉ prepares budgets for the following year and continues to manage commercial revenues alongside public funding.
Broader economic and political implications
Britz's central-bank pedigree links RTÉ's financial management to broader questions about public accountability in Ireland. Central-bank processes tend to emphasise independence, clear reporting lines and controls. Those habits could shape how RTÉ handles sensitive financial choices.
On the economic side, the broadcaster's choices feed into the creative and media sectors. If RTÉ tightens budgets, commissioning decisions and staffing will be affected. If it steadies its accounts, it could help stabilise relationships with independent producers and commercial partners.
There's also the important issue of public trust. RTÉ holds a unique place in Irish life; any move that improves transparency and governance will be significant politically. But stronger controls can also mean tough decisions on programming and costs.
What to watch next
Over the coming months the key items to monitor will be the interim CFO arrangements; the handover plan between Ms Hurley and Ms Britz; and whether the Central Bank's accounting practices influence RTÉ's reporting format or internal controls.
Observers will also watch how quickly Ms Britz engages with staff and unions, and whether she sets out a public timetable for financial reforms. Those steps will give a clearer signal of how RTÉ intends to balance public-service output with the need to live within its means.
Ms Britz brings experience from private-sector CFO roles in South Africa and senior finance positions at the Reserve Bank.nk of South Africa and senior finance leadership at the Central Bank of Ireland — a combination RTÉ's leadership clearly judged valuable.
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"I look forward to welcoming her to the organisation in due course," said Kevin Bakhurst, RTÉ director-general.
This article was created with AI assistance.
