Starcom, Part of Core, Restructures Leadership with Greater Focus on Digital and Effectiveness

Pictured: backrow: Dave Thomson, Emer Lawn, David Fogarty; front: Jen Walsh, Anna Doyle, Aisling O'Sullivan

Starcom, part of Core, Ireland’s largest marketing communications company, has announced the appointment of Jen Walsh and David Fogarty as digital board directors, as well as Dave Thomson as Starcom’s head of digital.

Jen Walsh is one of the most experienced digital practitioners in Ireland, and in recent years has led digital strategy at Zenith, part of Core. Walsh has led award-winning teams at Zenith, delivering campaigns across the globe for a diverse range of clients, and is a digital thought leader, speaking at many events, as well as contributing to media.

Walsh will collaborate closely with David Fogarty, who has close to two decades experience in digital roles across the industry. Since 2017, Fogarty has led key initiatives at Core Investment, including becoming the first agency to secure IAB Gold Standard Accreditation, building a team to achieve Google Premier Partner accreditation, and being a thought leader in digital video.

Alongside these two key appointments, Dave Thomson has been appointed as Starcom’s head of digital. Dave joined Core in 2014 for several years before gaining experience and new digital and strategic planning skills in Toronto, and subsequently returned to Starcom in 2020.  As a former Cannes Young Lion, Thomson will bring his digital creativity to the team at Starcom.

Starcom’s drive to grow its digital leadership with these appointments, is coupled with the growth of its Digital and Performance team of embedded specialists throughout the year, who have an undivided focus on driving performance. This team works directly alongside Core Performance, Core’s recently launched dedicated Practice of search, social and platform specialists, and together aim to deliver best-in-class solutions that are tailored for each client across all brand and demand driven digital activity.

Speaking about these appointments, managing director at Starcom, Emer Lawn said, “We are delighted to share and celebrate these appointments – with three of the Ireland’s most experienced digital experts, leading our teams and client solutions in Starcom. Our board and leadership team has digital expertise at its core; which ensures our clients remain at the forefront of the ever-changing media landscape. Beyond this, Jen, David and Dave each offer extensive and unique experience – in client innovation, ad tech and operations and digital strategy – and together, ensure Starcom are consistently bringing our clients the best and most effective digital & performance solutions.”