Lithuanian national broadcaster still without internal audit chief after failed recruitment

Lithuanian National Radio and Television (LRT) remains without a permanent head of its internal audit service after the latest candidate failed to secure enough support from the governing council, LRT reports.

The position has been vacant since April last year, when former chief Laura Savičenė announced her departure. Since then, repeated recruitment attempts—including a public competition relaunched last August—have not yielded a suitable replacement.

According to Mindaugas Jurkynas, chair of LRT’s council, the most recent candidate was reviewed in a session “a few weeks ago” but fell short of the required seven votes from the 12-member body. “There was one candidate. After hearing the selection committee’s discussions and her responses, she did not gather the majority needed for appointment,” Jurkynas told the ELTA news agency. He noted that with only eight of 12 council members present, achieving the seven-vote threshold was “difficult” due to the secret ballot requirement.

Jurkynas downplayed concerns over the prolonged vacancy, stating that Vaida Novikova—currently serving as acting head—has “managed the duties excellently.” He confirmed that a new competition will be announced, adding, “The function is covered for now.”

The council, responsible for appointing and dismissing the audit chief, first declared a public competition in May last year but terminated it in June following recommendations from the selection committee. A revised competition was approved in August, though its candidates also failed to meet approval.

Savičenė had led the internal audit service since July 2024 before announcing her resignation in April 2025.