RTÉ news anchor Caitríona Perry has announced that she is leaving the broadcaster to join BBC News as chief presenter in Washington DC.
Ms Perry previously worked as Washington correspondent for RTÉ but has co-anchored the Six One News since 2018, working first alongside the late Keelin Shanley and more recently with David McCullagh.
A new co-presenter of Six One is expected to be announced shortly.
In a statement posted on Twitter today, Ms Perry said the move comes with “a mix of sadness and excitement” after 16 years at RTÉ.
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“I am passionate about world news and US politics in particular, so it is really exciting to get the opportunity to be at the forefront of the BBC’s coverage, bringing news to a global audience of nearly 500 million people,” the journalist said.
She will join the recently appointed chief presenter Sumi Somaskanda to anchor the BBC News channel out of Washington. The BBC said the new hires reinforced its “commitment to better serve North American audiences with more breaking news coverage and in-depth analysis”.
Ms Perry thanked RTÉ viewers, listeners and readers for giving her the “extraordinary privilege” of being a public service broadcast journalist.
“It has been an honour to report on and anchor major news events, and to bring important news and developments to our audience,” she added, saying that she will be tuning in on Irish news “from afar, like so many other Irish abroad.”
Deirdre McCarthy, managing director of RTÉ News and Current Affairs said Ms Perry has been a “hugely valued” member of the RTÉ News team.
“While we will miss her presenting RTÉ's flagship Six One News, we are so delighted for her to take up this huge international opportunity. We are very proud to see such a talented Irish journalist go on to succeed on a global news stage,” Ms McCarthy said.
“From working across all desks and platforms in the RTÉ newsroom, to her hugely impactful time as RTÉ News’s Washington correspondent to her calm and diligent presenting of the news to audiences each evening during national highs and lows, Caitríona’s hard work and journalistic ethic always shone through.”
Ms Perry has presented many RTÉ news specials, including the 2020 US presidential elections and 2021 inauguration, the visit of Pope Francis, additional programmes during the pandemic, and most recently the visit to Ireland of US president Joe Biden.
The award-winning journalist has worked across TV, radio and online platforms. Prior to joining RTÉ, she worked for Today FM and Newstalk. She holds a bachelors degree in journalism and a masters degree in international relations and has written two books on American politics.
”We are thrilled to welcome Caitríona to BBC News. She brings authority, expertise and warmth to the new channel, and completes a compelling on-air team,” said Paul Royall, executive news editor for the BBC News channel.
The BBC recently merged its UK-focused BBC News channel – which was originally named BBC News 24 – with its BBC World television channel.
The more internationally flavoured single channel, aimed at both domestic and global audiences, was formed as part of a cost-cutting initiative that led to a number of the BBC’s regular news presenters being taken off the daily BBC News line-up or opting for voluntary redundancy.
