By Business & Finance 
Stephen Brewer, Managing Director, Magnet Networks Ireland Division
Business & Finance highlights notable new appointments at Magnet Networks, Esri Ireland, Tyndall National Institute and Springboard PR.
Stephen Brewer, Managing Director
Magnet Networks
Telecommunications industry expert Stephen Brewer has been announced as the new the Managing Director of the Magnet Networks Ireland Division. New Magnet Networks Ireland Managing Director Stephen Brewer occupied CEO positions at Vodafone, Cable & Wireless and Digicel and was previously CCO at O2 and Orange France.
“Magnet Networks has achieved considerable growth from our specific expertise in working with web-centric multinational business customers on a global scale,” said Magnet Networks Group CEO Mark Kellett.
We work with some of the world’s biggest brands and believe that there is considerable further opportunity for us in the sector. The design and unique deployment of Magnet Networks’ technology is enabling a new way of smart living and our majority-owned subsidiary, Velocity 1, is redefining the traditional rental model in the biggest construction project in Britain.
Magnet Networks Chairman Kenneth D Peterson Jr said: “Our new organisational structure is designed to enable Magnet Networks to better address and respond to the needs of our current and prospective customers as we move forward.”
Global growth has seen Magnet Networks embark on an office opening schedule which includes India, Australia, Dubai, the US and the UK.
Rachel Steenson, Market Engagement Manager for Northern Ireland
Rachel Steenson
Esri Ireland
Rachel will be responsible for overall market development in Northern Ireland and as part of her new role she will also manage a growing portfolio of customer accounts.
As a member of Esri Ireland’s leadership team, Rachel will contribute to the strategic direction of the company in Northern Ireland, by leading sector-wide engagement activities within the market. Rachel will work closely with customers and partners to help ensure that both public and private sector organisations understand the potential of location, place and geography to aid in the transformation of their businesses.
Prior to this role, Rachel joined Esri Ireland in 2016 as Customer Success Manager, project managing several major GIS installations. Previous to her appointment at Esri Ireland, Rachel worked in Ordnance Survey Northern Ireland (OSNI) since 2004, holding several roles, most recently as a Principal Mapping and Charting Officer (Grade 7). At OSNI, Rachel managed several high profile projects including the LPIS (land-parcel identification system) project alongside the Department for Agriculture (now DAERA).
In September 2016, Rachel was elected to the position of Chair of the Northern Ireland Branch of BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT. She is also a member of Women in Business Northern Ireland (WIBNI) and acts as a STEM ambassador, promoting the value of STEM to young people. Rachel holds an MSc in Computer Science and Applications and a postgraduate diploma in Geographic Information Systems.
Professor William Scanlon, CEO
Prof William Scanlon
Tyndall National Institute
One of Europe’s leading technology research organisations, Tyndall National Institute, has appointed Professor William Scanlon to the role of Chief Executive.
Acknowledged globally as a pioneer in wearables and medical device communications, a technology entrepreneur and an accomplished academic in the area of wireless innovation and communications, Prof. Scanlon takes on the role of CEO of the national institute for ICT (Information & Communication Technology, comprising photonics, micro and nanotechnology and systems). The new Chief Executive will lead a team of more than 500 researchers, engineers and support staff including 120 full time graduate students.
Prof. Scanlon joins Tyndall from Queen’s University Belfast, where he was most recently Head of School of Electronics, Electrical Engineering & Computer Science, and Chair of Wireless Communications for over a decade. He has also held a number of commercial roles, including co-founder and Managing Director of ActivWireless, a spin-out company that focused on real time location systems, as well as engineering roles with Siemens, Nortel Networks and Osram.
With over 30 years combined experience in industry and academia, Prof. Scanlon has an impressive background in strategic research management and particularly in the commercialisation of research. Connected health, mobile networks, localisation and wireless body area networks have been key areas of Scanlon’s experience and research publications. His internationally-leading research expertise spans RF and microwaves, antennas and propagation, mobile communications, sensors and wearables.
Maria Tracey, Client Director
Maria Tracey
Springboard PR and Marketing
Previously Client Manager at Springboard, Maria specialises in the creation and execution of strategic communications for clients. She has worked at Springboard for the past three years, on campaigns such as the successful Waterford Greenway launch in 2017. In June of this year, Springboard won Best Public Sector Campaign at the Awards for Excellence in Public Relations for its work on the project. Prior to joining Springboard, Maria was a journalist for over 10 years, working in a number of leading national and regional publications.
Speaking on her new role, Maria said: “I’m excited to take on the position of Springboard’s new Client Director. I look forward to continuing to provide the exceptional and tailored service that Springboard is so well respected for; along with cultivating new business opportunities for the agency.”
Springboard’s managing director, Susie Horgan stated: “We’re thrilled to promote Maria to this new role as Client Director. Her valuable skill set has only grown during her time here and she’s a true asset to the company.”
Check out last week’s appointments here.
