Core Media has appointed Geoff McGrath as the new managing director of Starcom as well as director of transformative change within the Core Media Group.
Geoff McGrath was managing director of Target McConnells and brings with him 20 years of experience in the business. McGrath’s early career was with Bank of Ireland, where he worked as a senior brand consultant for three years before moving on to join McConnells Direct as managing director. In 2003 he joined Target Marketing, linking up with founder Gary Brown. The business was then sold to DDFH&B in 2005 in a deal reputed to be worth around €4m at the time. The business was then renamed RMG Target. In 2011, he was instrumental in the formation of Target McConnells after part of RMG Target was merged with McConnells. Earlier this week, it was announced that he was standing down from the agency, to be replaced by Abi Moran.
He replaces Craig Farrell who has played a significant role in building Starcom into one of the market leaders in the industry. For his part, Farrell will take up a new post within Core Media as managing director of ZenithOptimedia.
Commenting on the appointment, Alan Cox, CEO of Core Media said: “Geoff’s appointment is a crucial step in the evolution of our business into a total communications organisation. We are in the process of transforming Core Media into a group that excels right across the full spectrum of marketing communications needs. Geoff will be a key driver in helping us to achieve that ambition.’’
“I am very much looking forward to the new challenge with Core Media and leading the Starcom team. This is an exciting time in Core Media. It was not an easy decision to leave Target McConnells after 12 fantastic years there. It is a great agency and I’m very proud of all that Gary Brown and myself have achieved and I wish them continued success in the future. All companies benefit from change and I’m excited about what lies ahead in Starcom – an agency that I have worked with previously and admired for many years,” adds McGrath.
