Shane McGonigle, the CEO of the Marketing Institute, is to step down from the role in December.
It is understood that McGonigle, one of the country’s top marketing and advertising professionals, is to take on a new role as CMO of a technology company.
McGonigle joined the Marketing Institute in August 2022 and has overseen a transformation of the organization since then. He joined it from the food group Kerry where he was strategic marketing director for Europe. Prior to this, he was chief customer officer with the fintech company MyComplianceOffice.
McGonigle is also an experienced advertising practitioner, having served as CEO of J Walter Thompson (JWT) in Ireland. He is also a former global director of JWT with responsibility for Baileys as well as Kraft Foods.
More recently, he was also a visiting professor of marketing at Ulster University and is currently vice chairperson of the European Marketing Confederation.
Mark Nolan, chair of Marketing Institute Ireland, said: “On behalf of the Board, I want to thank Shane for his leadership and contribution to MII and to Ireland’s marketing community. We wish him every success for the future.”
He said the board will appoint an interim CEO to work with the MII leadership team and “ensure continuity across member services, learning and education, events, professional services and the Institute’s strategic programme. The appointment will be announced once finalised.”
“MII has a clear mission and strategic direction, and the board is fully focused on maintaining momentum and delivery,” Nolan added. “We have a structured interim plan and will run an open, rigorous process to appoint the next CEO. We will communicate material updates as the process progresses.”
Nolan also added that the permanent CEO search is being prepared, with the role expected to launch in early October, subject to final board approval. “The board is targeting an appointment in Q1 2027, subject to identifying the right candidate and completing the necessary governance and contractual steps.”
