Digital Business Ireland has announced the appointment of Ashley McDonnell of global luxury powerhouse PUIG, as Chairperson of the representative body up to 2024.
McDonnell will take over from current chair, Niall Horgan, of Irish athleisure wear brand, Gym+Coffee, whose term draws to a close this month.
Prior to joining PUIG, McDonnell was a Global Luxury Account Manager for internet giant Google, working to develop innovative marketing strategies for leading international brands.
Previous to this, McDonnell worked at the helm of e-commerce, as a Digital Manager with Parfums Christian Dior, and as a Digital Analyst with Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH ).
She has also acted in an advisory capacity to Ireland’s leading fashion, tech and sustainability start-up, Rag Revolution. Most recently, McDonnell was crowned ‘Digital Trailblazer’ at the Digital Business Ireland permanent tsb National Digital Awards 2021.
With a membership now in excess of 8,000 businesses, McDonnell’s appointment has come at a pivotal moment for the representative body. With over 10 years experience across digital marketing, luxury retail and brand management, she is well placed to assist in the development of Digital Business Ireland, as the organisation endeavours to meet its ambitious targets for 2022.
McDonnell will be assisted in her role as Chairperson, by the representative body’s Advisory Council, comprising some of Ireland’s most distinguished digital leaders.
McDonnell said: "I am so pleased to be appointed Chairperson of Digital Business Ireland, and I look forward to leading the country’s dedicated representative body for digital and e-commerce. It is an incredibly exciting time for Digital Business Ireland - with the launch of its recent Digital Insights research, its IWD Furthering Females eBook, and the National Digital Awards programme - so I am thrilled to be at the centre of so much innovation and growth.
"I am fortunate to be accepting this role, following a period of tremendous success for Digital Business Ireland, its partners and membership. I would like to thank Niall for his efforts over the past year, and I am certainly conscious of the shoes that I have to fill.
"The past two years have been an incredibly challenging time for all of us, but the sheer breadth of talent across the digital sector in Ireland is a source of inspiration. The exponential growth of e-commerce marketplaces has come at a pivotal moment for businesses throughout the country, and I believe that Digital Business Ireland can play a crucial role in helping SMEs to realise their digital ambitions, enhance their online functionality and unlock new opportunities."
