By Business & Finance 
Pictured (L-R): Alex Collmer, CEO VidMob; Lisa Haskins, Director of Marketing and Operations EMEA VidMob; Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD
This week sees new and notable appointments at VidMob, Each+Other, Hiscox Ireland, LK Shields Solicitors, Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links, Quintas, Sidero, Splitit and the Veterinary Council of Ireland.
Lisa Haskins, Director of Marketing and Operations EMEA VidMob
VidMob
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, today met the U.S CEO and co-founder of VidMob, a world-leading platform for intelligent creative that has relocated its EMEA hub to Dublin.
Alex Collmer, CEO met with Government officials, IDA Ireland, clients and associates from the social media and digital tech sphere, at an event to mark the official opening of the rapidly expanding multi-national.
The Covid-delayed launch was hosted by Lisa Haskins, the Irish, Dublin-based Director of Marketing and Operations, EMEA & APAC, for VidMob.
VidMob pioneered an AI tool that very specifically measures the performance of marketing creative, allowing marketers optimise ad design for more efficient and impactful campaigns.
The company currently employs 21 people in its Dublin based EMEA office, with plans to double headcount in the next 12 months. Longer-term, the company is looking at up to 75 jobs, in the next three years, leveraging Irish-based tech talent to strengthen its client offering and achieve market targets.
VidMob is supported by the Irish Government through IDA Ireland.
Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Leo Varadkar TD, said at the opening; “I’m pleased to have met with the VidMob team today and really welcome the company’s plans to double its headcount this year and create 75 new jobs over the next three years. VidMob is an industry leader and it’s a real boost that the company has chosen Dublin for its EMEA hub. Ireland’s rich talent pool and innovative culture provide the perfect conditions for companies like VidMob to thrive. I wish the team every success as they take this next step in growing their business in Europe”.
The business has had an Irish office since 2019, when it was decided to move the VidMob EMEA headquarters from the UK to Dublin.
The U.S. company originally launched in London, and the Dublin move was linked to talent availability, and the fact that the Irish capital is deemed a better route for accessing partners along with remaining within the European Union.
CEO, Alex Collmer, told guests that the business settled on Dublin, as it has quickly become a tech-capital of Europe, with exceptional talent.
The New York-based company closed a Series C financing round last year, raising $50 million expansion capital from a combination of funds, strategic investors and influential companies in the creative technology space.
“Our move was due not only to access to Europe, but also the local access to exceptional talent and to partners such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Google, whose headquarters for EMEA are also based in Dublin”.
The business, founded in 2014, has raised over $100 million to expand its ground-breaking platform for intelligent creative. It has global operations across the US, LATAM, EMEA and APAC, with offices in more than a dozen cities.
The latest funding will support VidMob’s EMEA expansion from its Dublin hub to further locations around Europe, focusing on the UK, Switzerland, France and Germany in particular. New e-commerce initiatives are planned, and ongoing investment in advanced technology and data science to help clients maximise the value of advertising creative.
In EMEA specifically, VidMob has grown at least 100%, year on year, since setting up in Dublin. High-profile new client wins in the past year include Johnson & Johnson, Pepsi, Sumol & Compal and Colgate. The growth trend is set to continue, with additional new team members being recruited in client services and engineering, and two sales leaders in Enterprise and SMB (small and medium-sized business) recently on-boarded.
Jason Donnell, COO and Co-Founder of VidMob, said: “It is an exciting time as we grow and build better relationships in Dublin. There is significant demand for our unique services which unify marketing creative and data by connecting brands to content creators and marketing analysts who are trained in creative best practice across every platform and next-gen ad format.”
Welcoming the news, Denis Curran, Head of Regions, Property and Enterprise Development at IDA Ireland, said; “Ireland continues to be a leading destination for fast growing companies looking to internationalise their business and scale operations. It is great to see VidMob choose Dublin as the location for its EMEA expansion and join the growing cluster of global technology companies with operations in Ireland. I wish the team every success with their growth plans for their Irish operations”.
Lisa Haskins is a DCU graduate, who came from LinkedIn’s Dublin EMEA HQ. She says expansion of the Dublin team is core to global growth plans and the commitment to boost the VidMob global offering to local and EMEA businesses and brands.
Vivienne Duggan, President & Rachel Brown, Deputy President
Veterinary Council of Ireland
Pictured: Vivienne Duggan, President of the Veterinary Council of Ireland
Pictured: Rachel Brown, Deputy President of the Veterinary Council of Ireland
The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI), the independent statutory body responsible for the regulation of the practise of veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the public interest and in the interests of animal health and welfare, has appointed Vivienne Duggan as President of the Veterinary Council and Rachel Brown as Deputy President of the Veterinary Council.
The incoming President and Deputy President were appointed, following an uncontested election, by members of the Veterinary Council at the most recent Veterinary Council meeting of 19th January 2022. Vivienne Duggan and Rachel Brown assume office with immediate effect.
Vivienne Duggan works as an Associate Professor in Equine Clinical Studies at the School of Veterinary Medicine in University College Dublin. She has a PhD in Veterinary Biomedical Sciences from Oklahoma State University and has spent time working across a number of mixed veterinary practices including equine, general and specialty practice in Ireland and abroad.
Speaking about her appointment as President of the Veterinary Council, Vivienne Duggan, said “It is an immense honour to have been elected as President of the Veterinary Council of Ireland. I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues on the Council, along with the Registrar and executive team in the interest of the public and of animal health and welfare.”
Rachel Brown is a Veterinary Practitioner, working from Moy Veterinary Clinic, a mixed practice serving companion animal and farm animals in Ballina, Co. Mayo.
Rachel Brown, Deputy President of the Veterinary Council of Ireland said: “It is truly a privilege to be serving in this new role and it was extremely gratifying to have been elected by my colleagues on the Council. The work of the Veterinary Council is essential to ensuring a well-regulated veterinary sector in Ireland, and protecting the interests of the public.”
Niamh Muldoon, CEO and Registrar of the Veterinary Council of Ireland said: “I warmly congratulate our new President and Deputy President on their incoming term of office and look forward to working with them both to advance the work of the Veterinary Council on matters of animal health and welfare and public health. This is an historic election, as it is the first time that the Veterinary Council benefits from a female President and Deputy President in office simultaneously”.
I would also like to recognise and sincerely thank our outgoing President and Deputy President, Joe Moffitt and Dr Ailís Ní Riain, for their unwavering levels of commitment and dedication in the performance of their roles over the preceding two years.”
Billy Kennedy, Principal UX Designer
Each&Other
Pictured: Billy Kennedy, Principal UX Designer at Each&Other
Billy Kennedy has been appointed Principal UX Designer at Each&Other to support the company’s continued growth. Billy will be responsible for leading out on research and insight within the company.
Prior to taking up this position, Billy worked at London agency Spotless for eight years and held numerous roles including Lead Experience Consultant and Head of UX.
Billy has over 11 years’ experience in UX and he was instrumental in the primary research and insight for the successful relaunch of the Natwest Mettle proposition in 2021, the discovery and detailed recommendations around the Playstation 4 console experience internationally (US, Mexico, Japan, Germany) – many of which made their way into the PS5 as well as multiple successful launches with the BT ecosystem including major propositions such as Whole Home Wifi and BT Smart Hub.
Shane Murnaghan, Senior Financial Lines Underwriter
Hiscox Ireland
Pictured: Shane Murnaghan, Senior Financial Lines Underwriter at Hiscox
Hiscox Ireland is delighted to announce the appointment of Shane Murnaghan as Senior Financial Lines Underwriter, joining the new business development team at Hiscox Ireland, headquartered at Sir John Rogerson’s Quay, Dublin.
Shane will be responsible for underwriting new business submissions in respect of financial line and commercial lines products whilst growing and developing relationships with Hiscox panel of brokers. As an industry expert with almost 20 years experience, a key part of Shanes’s role will be to provide training and support to the new business team.
Shane is delighted to be appointed as Senior Financial Lines Underwriter at Hiscox Ireland and is looking forward to continuing to develop and expand underwriting knowledge across all lines of business as well as strengthening existing relationships and building his reputation within the Irish Insurance market.
Prior to joining Hiscox, Shane worked with Zurich Insurance for over 18 years across an extensive range of commercial and personal lines.
Shane holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Management from IT Tallaght.
Dan Potts, Chief of Consulting Services
Sidero
Pictured: Dan Potts, Chief of Consulting Services at Sidero
Sidero, Ireland’s software, cloud and digital transformation specialist, is today announcing the appointment of Dan Potts as Chief of Consulting Services in its newly created consulting division. Dan brings nearly 15 years of experience in consulting roles across the Irish, UK and European markets to this new position, where he has successfully established global talent pools and managed teams across multiple sectors.
As Chief of Consulting Services, Dan will support Sidero to identify new business opportunities and provide specialist skillsets for specific projects across short or medium-term engagements. He will focus on growing effective internal teams to reduce hiring timelines and enhance company growth and project delivery for customers at every stage of their digital transformation journeys.
Sidero has launched a new consulting division within the business to solve customers’ business challenges through Sidero’s expertise in cloud, cloud native and software development, providing specialist resources to lead or support both new and existing projects and programmes.
Dan spent the last number of years working with cutting-edge SME consultancies in Ireland, implementing innovative talent attraction strategies and building effective talent pools to deliver small, medium and large projects within leading organisations across financial services, technology, aviation, fintech, and the public sector.
Prior to joining Sidero, Dan led Sanderosa Consulting, working with clients in the financial services, oil and gas, and energy sectors across the UK and European markets. The company was ultimately acquired by Procorre and following this integration, Dan led the sales arm at Procorre for four years as Sales Director. Here, he managed a team of nearly 50 employees who were responsible for over 1,800 contractors across the consultancy division.
Dan Potts, Chief of Consulting Services, Sidero: “I am delighted to join Sidero at such an exciting time in the growth of the business. I aim to leverage my consulting background across multiple markets in spearheading the new consulting division and providing solution-based outcomes for customers.
“Having worked in both startups and large organisations, I will use this knowledge to help drive growth at Sidero, an expanding indigenous company. Hiring and retaining talent in Ireland’s current technology landscape is challenging, but I plan to draw on my experience to assist in bridging this gap and building a highly skilled team.”
Clare Dowling, Partner & Simon Mahon, Partner
LK Shields Solicitors
Pictured: New LK Shields Partners Clare Dowling (Left) and Simon Mahon (Right), with Managing Partner, David Williams (Centre)
Leading corporate and commercial law firm LK Shields Solicitors has promoted Clare Dowling and Simon Mahon as partners in the firm.
Clare Dowling is a highly regarded litigation solicitor who specialises in corporate insolvency and restructuring and commercial disputes. Clare has acted in large scale commercial disputes across a range of areas including shareholder disputes, property disputes and contractual claims. She has particular expertise in advising on landlord and tenant issues, liquidations, examinerships and receiverships as well as formal and informal restructurings and reorganisations. Clare also has wide experience of insolvency related litigation, acting for both insolvency office-holders and secured and unsecured creditors in disputes.
Simon Mahon specialises in the areas of corporate and commercial banking, representing international and domestic banks, alternative lenders and borrowers on a wide range of financing transactions. He has extensive experience in all forms of secured and unsecured lending across various industries, including acquisition and leveraged financing, real estate and development financing, debt re-structuring, asset-based financing and cash-flow lending, on a bi-lateral and syndicated basis. He has a strong track record with a focus on transactional work involving all manner of banking facilities and other financial products in the corporate banking sphere.
Having demonstrated a high level of technical and strategic ability and an exceptional commitment to client service, LK Shields Solicitors is delighted to announce both Clare and Simon’s promotion as partners in the firm.
Commenting on the announcement, David Williams, Managing Partner, LK Shields Solicitors said:
“We are delighted to announce the promotion of Clare and Simon to partnership. They have both proven themselves to be invaluable team members with excellent technical ability, legal knowledge and a commitment to providing first rate client service. We look forward to working with them in their new capacity. It is an exciting time within both our Banking and Litigation teams and across the firm as a whole. In addition to these promotions, we appointed eight newly qualified solicitors in December 2021 adding to the other significant solicitor hires carried out during the last year.”
Nandan Sheth, CEO
Splitit
Splitit, the company empowering shoppers to use their credit cards to pay in installments, is pleased to announce its board of directors has appointed Nandan Sheth as CEO, effective February 28, 2022. Sheth is a seasoned fintech and payments industry executive with a record of entrepreneurial success co-founding, scaling and successfully selling two prior payments companies to large strategic acquirers. He also has significant experience as an executive at major global fintech and payment companies, including Fiserv, First Data Corporation and American Express. Splitit also announced that Interim CEO John Harper, who joined Splitit in August 2021 to lead the company during the global search process for a permanent appointment, will stay on for a period of time to ensure a smooth transition.
Sheth most recently served as Fiserv’s Head of Global Digital Commerce and Head of Fiserv’s Carat business, an ecosystem of omnichannel commerce solutions for large multinational merchants. Before that, Sheth was President of Acculynk, the company he co-founded in 2008 and sold to First Data in 2017. His earlier experience includes serving as GM at American Express and co-founding and scaling Harbor Payments (sold to American Express) and e-Debt. Sheth holds an MBA from the Cass Business School and a BSc with Honors from City, University of London.
“Nandan brings more than 20 years of relevant experience and a powerful network within the payments and fintech space to Splitit,” said Dawn Robertson, Chair of the Board of Splitit. “Given his background and experience as a leader across business development, production strategy, and his ability to successfully develop and launch partnerships, we’re confident that he will unlock the growth potential of the company.”
“At the same time, we thank John Harper for his leadership and guidance as Interim CEO. Having a veteran retail executive at the helm over the past six months has helped us better understand merchants’ needs and expectations and develop our business in ways that help our partners take full advantage of the market opportunities in front of them,” Robertson continued.
Splitit is a credit card–based installment solution that lets consumers spend smarter by making the most of the credit cards they already have. Splitit gives shoppers more control by turning larger purchases into more manageable monthly installments on their existing credit cards—with no new financing, interest or fees—while benefitting from the card’s existing rewards program. Splitit’s flexible platform helps merchants deliver a faster and simpler payments experience that generated incremental sales, AOV, brand satisfaction and loyalty.
“I’m honored to join this disruptive fintech company at an inflection point. There is unparalleled demand for its innovative payment option letting consumers use their existing credit, rather than new financing, for spreading out large purchases,” said Sheth. “Additionally, Splitit is the most merchant friendly BNPL platform in the market allowing merchants to maintain a direct relationship with their customers, while supporting the highest BNPL approval rates in the industry. The global opportunity for Splitit is tremendous, and I’m excited to be part of the journey that impacts consumers, merchants and shareholders.”
Julianne Sullivan, Audit Director
Quintas
Pictured: Julianne Sullivan, Audit Director at Quintas
Quintas has today announced the appointment of Julianne Sullivan as its new Audit Director. A fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland, Julianne has joined the firm from Deloitte where she headed up the SME Audit Service Line for the Cork office. She additionally managed the delivery of the outsourced financial accounting services for multi-nationals based in Ireland.
Julianne brings over 20 years’ experience to the Quintas team having worked across several sectors, including transport industry, food and agricultural sector, retail, technology, pharma, construction and real estate.
Speaking on the appointment Paul O’Connell, Managing Partner said, “We are delighted to welcome Julianne to the Quintas team. She has extensive experience providing audit and advisory services that will undoubtedly benefit both our team and our clients. Julianne will be responsible for service delivery across a large and diverse portfolio of our clients across various industries. We look forward to working with Julianne into the future.”
Commenting on her appointment, Julianne Sullivan said, “I am delighted to have been appointed as the Audit Director at Quintas. At Quintas we are very well placed to service growing and emerging markets. By focusing on our people, clients, regulation, technology and the local market, my ambition is to be recognised as a best-in-class provider of audit services. I look forward to working with my team to service our clients and further expanding our audit services while working in partnership with our valued clients.”
The firm specialises in accountancy advice and support to Irish SMEs, has a team of over 50 professionals and operates across multiple sectors. Quintas is a trusted strategic advisor with years of proven business advisory service expertise across a broad range of sectors, including corporate finance, banking, debt resolution & insolvency, succession planning, tax restructuring, mergers, acquisitions, and mediation.
David Leech, Sales Director
Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links
Pictured: David Leech, Sales Director at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links
We are delighted to welcome our new Sales Director, David Leech to Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links.
Before joining the team at Portmarnock, David most recently held the position of Membership & Sales Development Director at Killeen Castle, where he launched and implemented a highly successful membership product.
Ahead of that role, David previously worked as Director of Sales with Macreddin Golf Course, managing the club through pre-opening and building a loyal membership and customer base.
David also has extensive experience working with Ireland’s leading event management agencies including Ovation and Conference Partners.
In this position, David will be responsible for maximising the sales potential of the Resort and achieving revenue budgets through business development for all market segments, including; Rooms, Food and Beverage, Meetings, Events, Conferences, Incentive Groups, Weddings and Golf Groups.
Outside of work, David is married with five children and enjoys playing tennis (and even more golf) in his spare time!
David said: “I am absolutely delighted to be taking on my new role as Sales Director at Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links. Having worked in the golf and leisure industry for over 20 years, I am very much looking forward to joining this new and dynamic team.
Portmarnock Hotel & Golf Links is a truly unique product in the Irish leisure market and I share the vision and passion of the team to ensure that this potential is realised.”
Portmarnock’s General Manager, William Kirby said of David’s appointment: “David brings a wealth of sales knowledge to our team and marks an exciting next step for the future of our resort.
His experience with a variety of markets will be a huge asset. We are thrilled to have him on board.”
