Adrian Lynch appointed RTÉ One channel controller

RTÉ has appointed Adrian Lynch from independent production company Animo Television as the controller of RTÉ One.

Mr Lynch will step down from his position as managing director of Animo, the producer of shows including Secret Millionaire, Ireland's Fittest Family and Celebrity Bainisteoir, in November in order to take up the role.

He succeeds George Dixon, the British television executive who left the role after less than a year in order to become global editorial director of BBC Worldwide.

Mr Lynch said he looked forward to working with Irish programme-makers and talent, both inside and outside of RTÉ. “I believe in the importance of well told stories in drama and documentary, as well as the national pulling power of live event television,” he said in a statement.

Other programmes made by Animo for RTÉ include Feargal Quinn's Retail Therapy, OMG! It's Jedward! and current affairs documentaries such as Freefall: The Night the Banks Failed and Futureshock: Property Crash.

Animo, alongside its regular co-production partner Kite Entertainment, was also recently commissioned by RTÉ Two's channel controller Bill Malone to make Connected, a "social experiment" docusoap modelled on an Israeli television format.

RTÉ Television managing director Glen Killane, who created two channel controller positions in early 2013 in a bid to shore up RTÉ One and RTÉ Two's connection with audiences, said Mr Lynch had "all the experience and attributes to be an outstanding creative leader" for RTÉ One.

“Through his experience with Animo Television, Adrian has proven that he has excellent programming and public service instincts as well as an innate entrepreneurial spirit,” Mr Killane said.

A number of internal RTÉ candidates were understood to have applied for the position.

RTÉ One has a 20 per cent share of viewing to linear television channels in Ireland and reaches an audience of 1.85 million on an average day, the TAM Ireland figures compiled by Nielsen show. The channel broadcast 19 of the top 20 programmes in Ireland last year.