Newstalk 106-108fm has announced that Garrett Harte has regretfully resigned as Editor in Chief of the station.

Mr Harte, who joined Newstalk 15 years ago, has decided to leave to pursue other interests. Harte joined the station when it launched in 2001 and has helped steer the station from a local Dublin station to the success that it is today with over 700,000 people listening every week. He will remain with the station until the beginning of 2017.

Commenting on Mr Harte’s decision, the Chairwoman of Communicorp, Lucy Gaffney, said: "I would like to thank Garrett for his immense contribution to the station for the last 15 years. He has been a phenomenal editor for our station and was instrumental in building the station from a start-up radio station to the success that it is today. On a personal level I would like to thank Garrett and wish him all the best in his future career."

Commenting on the announcement, Garrett Harte said: “After 15 years with Newstalk I have made a decision to leave the company to concentrate on other media projects. I am very proud to have contributed to the development of Newstalk from its launch in 2001 to its development into a significant and influential media outlet.

"I would like to thank Denis O’Brien, Lucy Gaffney, Gervaise Slowey, and the members of the Newstalk board for their support over the years.  I have worked with some of the most passionate and ambitious people at Newstalk and I would like to wish them, Tim Collins and the station every success for the future."

Tim Collins, Chief Executive of Newstalk, has commenced a process to identify a replacement for Mr Harte who will commence employment early next year.