By Business & Finance 
Pictured (L-R): Susie Horgan, Managing Director of Springboard Communications, with Tom Fitzpatrick, Director.
This week sees new and notable appointments at Springboard Communications, The Open University in Ireland, Mail Metrics, Drivalia, Yakult, and Davy.
By Héloïse Chaudot
Tom Fitzpatrick, Director
Springboard Communications
The former Irish Examiner Tom Fitzpatrick has been appointed as Springboard Communications’ new director.
In his new role, Fitzpatrick will focus on advising organisations on reputation management, provide counsel to clients, and support how organisations engage with media and key stakeholders.
Before this, Fitzpatrick held the editor’s position at the Irish Examiner. There, he championed high-impact public journalism and drove the growth of the outlet’s digital subscription strategy.
Speaking on his appointment, Tom Fitzpatrick said, “Springboard has built a strong reputation for strategic communications that stand up to scrutiny, and it’s a business I’ve long respected. After many years in journalism, moving into a Director role with Springboard felt like a natural next step. Having led large teams in fast-moving, high-pressure environments, I’ve seen how quickly issues can escalate and how important it is to get communications right. I’m looking forward to bringing that perspective to clients as they navigate an increasingly complex communications environment.”
Susie Horgan, Managing Director and Founder of Springboard Communications, added, “I’ve known Tom for many years and have always admired his leadership and editorial judgement. I’m delighted to welcome him to Springboard at an exciting time for the agency. His experience and perspective will be hugely valuable as we continue to grow and evolve our client offering.”
Michael Bower, Director
The Open University in Ireland
The Open University has appointed Michael Bower as its Director and Principal.
Bower will focus on expanding access to flexible higher education. He will also develop research partnerships. Additionally, he will strengthen collaboration with industry and the skills sector to meet the workforce’s needs.
He brings more than a decade of leadership experience within the University. As a Deputy Director of Student Success & Strategy, he played a central role in developing strategic partnerships with higher education institutions.
Karl Kohler, Chief Revenue Officer
Mail Metrics
Mail Metrics Group has announced the appointment of Karl Kohler as its new Chief Revenue Officer.
In his new role, Kohler will lead the group’s commercial strategy across the UK, Ireland, and Europe.
Karl Kohler brings extensive leadership experience to the new role. His work spanned operations, technology, consulting, and leadership previously. Most recently, he held the position of Sales Leader at Avanade Ireland, where he led the business through fourteen times revenue growth over six years.
Commenting on his appointment, he said, “I’m looking forward to working with a strong leadership team to accelerate that growth, deepen our client relationships and drive the digital evolution that will define the next chapter of this business.”
Nick Keegan, CEO of Mail Metrics Group, added, “Karl’s appointment is a statement of intent for where Mail Metrics is headed. His commercial instincts, his experience scaling technology businesses, and his ability to build lasting client relationships make him exactly the right person to lead our growth agenda.”
Damien Keogh, Commercial Director
Drivalia
Shinji Yamaguchi, Managing Director
Yakult UK & Ireland
Shinji Yamaguchi has been appointed as Yakult’s new Managing Director. Bringing over 30 years of experience to the role, Yamaguchi has worked with start-up environments, cross-functional teams, and international markets.Commenting on his appointment, Yamaguchi said, “Having worked in a number of international markets, I’m excited to now lead the continued growth of Yakult across the UK and Ireland. These are mature markets with strong foundations where Yakult has earned a position of trust through its unmatched expertise in the field of probiotics.
“My focus is to build on that by making clear, informed decisions that strengthen trust with consumers, customers and the wider category. It’s particularly encouraging to see the strong awareness of gut health here, not only among consumers but also within the scientific and medical communities who already work closely with our European Research Centre for Microbiology.”
Richard Bruens, Board
Davy
Davy has appointed Richard Bruens as an Independent Non-Executive of its Board. Bruens brings significant experience in financial technology, alongside strong leadership qualities and extensive knowledge of international wealth management services. He holds an MBA from the Alliance Manchester Business School at the University of Manchester.
He is currently Chair of CCV and European Merchant Services, two leading Dutch payment companies owned by FISERV, and is CEO of the Dutch Sport Tech Fund, a venture capital firm. Previously, he was CEO of the wealth business of Van Lanschot Kempen, a Dutch wealth management and capital markets firm and the oldest financial institution in the Netherlands. He continues to advise the business in a senior advisory role.
Commenting on the appointment, Vincent Crowley, Chair of the Davy Board, said, “We are delighted to welcome Richard to the Board. Richard brings significant experience in financial technology and international wealth management services. His experience and knowledge of building technology to meet the needs of clients in the financial services space will be invaluable as we continue to grow and develop technology solutions for our clients.”
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Business & Finance, Appointments
Business & Finance, Appointments
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