Padraic White
The chairman of the Louth Economic Forum, Padaic White, has joined the board of UTV Ireland.
UTV are planning to enter the Irish television market in January 2015 with an application submitted to the Broadcast Authority of Ireland recently.
They are clearly pushing ahead with plans for their launch in 13 month’s time, however, by recruiting the former IDA Ireland boss to their board.
Mr White, who has been involved with the Lotuh Economic Forum since its establishment in 2009, has had ties with UTV since the broadcaster purchased Q102 – then known as Lite FM – for €14m in 2002. He was a founder of the Dublin station and continued to serve as its chairman after the UTV purchase.
UTV also owns local radio station LMFM.
The appointment of Mr White highlights UTV’s plan to maximize the links between the new channel and its existing radio operations in the Republic, where it owns six stations and sells advertising on behalf of two others.
Mr White was central to the establishment and marketing of the IFSC in Dublin and during his tenure with the IDA brought the likes of Microsoft, IBM and Intel to Ireland.
