BBC Northern Ireland has appointed Damien Magee as its Head of News and Current Affairs. Damien, who has been interim Head of BBC News NI since 2025, will have lead responsibility for the BBC’s News and Current Affairs output in Northern Ireland across its television, radio and digital services. Damien Magee joined the BBC as a News Trainee in 1989.
He worked in London and then in Delhi and Berlin as part of the BBC’s international newsgathering operations. After returning to Belfast in 1999, he became Editor, TV News and was later appointed as Editor, Daily News Programmes, with responsibility for television and radio news programmes. He succeeds Kevin Kelly, who stepped down from his substantive role as Head of News and Current Affairs having decided to move to a new role after recovering from a period of illness.
Damien says: “It’s a huge privilege to lead the BBC’s News operation in Northern Ireland and I know how much what we do matters to audiences and the communities we serve.” Adam Smyth, Director, BBC Northern Ireland, says: “Damien has more than 30 years’ experience in BBC newsrooms and brings a wealth of on-the-job knowledge to the role. He will bring editorial rigour and ambition to his new role, working to ensure that the BBC’s locally based news services remain trusted, relevant and responsive to audience needs and diversity." JM4 Follow for more
Source: BBC
