Bakhurst announced the move in an email to RTE staff on Monday morning, his first day in office.
Forbess resignation followed after it was discovered that RTE made undisclosed payments to its top presenter.
The scandal around the undisclosed payments has since escalated following multiple interventions from the Irish government.
Kevin Bakhurst, RTE director general.Liam McBurney/PA Images via Getty Images.
Bakhurst has since met the Irish culture minister Catherine Martin.
