Mediahuis Ireland is the leading newspaper and online publisher on the island of Ireland and is the largest wholesale distributor of newspapers and magazines on the island. The Company is a 100% subsidiary of Mediahuis N.V. a private European media group, headquartered in Antwerp, Belgium.
Mediahuis Ireland Board
Murdoch MacLennan (chairman)
Murdoch MacLennan is Chairman and Non-Executive Director and has a long history in the newspaper publishing industry. Most recently, Murdoch was Chief Executive Officer of the Telegraph Media Group, leading the organization for 13 years and then as Deputy Chairman and Non-Executive Director. Before joining the Telegraph, Murdoch was Group Managing Director of Associated Newspapers and, prior to that, Managing Director of the Daily Record and Sunday Mail. He is currently Chairman of the Press Association Media Group and Chairman of the Scottish Professional Football League. Previously he was President of IFRA, the global association for newspapers, a member of the Board of the International News Media Association (“INMA”) and member of the Council of Google’s Digital News Initiative (“DNI”).
Email: murdoch@murdochmaclennan.com
Peter Vandermeersch
Peter Vandermeersch, former Editor-in-Chief and director of the Dutch news media group NRC Media, was appointed Publisher and member of the Mediahuis Ireland Executive Committee in 2019. In August 2022 he took over the role of CEO from his predecessor, Marc Vangeel, who remains as a Board Director. Mr Vandermeersch in his role as Publisher for the last 3 years was responsible for the long-term strategy of Mediahuis Ireland’s news titles, overseeing the digital transformation of its news brands, the continued development of its print titles as well as their overall brand positioning, leaving him well positioned to transition into the CEO role. Mr Vandermeersch has spent almost three decades as a journalist and was editor-in-chief of the Belgian newspaper De Standaard before taking up his role with NRC in 2010.
Email: pvandermeersch@mediahuis.ie
Len O’Hagan
Len has extensive national and international management, governance and directorial experience in both the public and private sectors. Len is Chairman of Northern Ireland Water, Pro Chancellor of Queens University Belfast, Chairman of the All-island Congenital Heart Disease Network Board and a director of a number of private companies. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Directors. Len was Chair of Belfast Harbour Commissioners, Chair of Metropolitan Arts Centre and Vice President of Royal College of Physicians.
Gilliane Quinn de Schonen
Gilliane Quinn de Schonen has a background in retailing. She was President and Managing Director of a chain of juice bars throughout France and Europe, operating under the Zumo brand until 2022. She has a background in consulting and food marketing based in Paris. She started her career with Bain and Company in London and Paris, and subsequently specialised in importing food products from Ireland and France into the French distributors such as Auchan, Monoprix, Intermarché and Carrefour. In 2000 she co-founded Novalenext, a prospective marketing company which worked on new retail concepts such as Daily Monop in addition to showcasing new food trends at the SIAL Trade fair. She was President of NetworkIrlande, the network of Irish professionals in France, which was created in 2010. Gilliane was a Non-Executive Director of Superquinn, the family supermarket chain for 10 years until the sale of the company in 2005.
Gilliane was the Chairperson of the Trinity College Dublin Association and Trust until 2021. She studied Business in Trinity College Dublin and holds a diploma in Corporate Governance from the CGI.
Marc Vangeel
Marc’s career in the media sector spans more than 25 years and includes various roles within the Mediahuis group. Having qualified as a civil engineer from Ghent University in 1986, Marc subsequently completed an MBA in Lessius Hogeschool, Antwerp from 1989-1991, followed by completion of the Harvard Business School programme ‘Strategies for Media Companies’ in 2007. Marc joined Concentra in 1994, working in a number of senior executive positions including as CEO/Managing Director, before the company joined forces with Corelio in 2014 to form Mediahuis. Marc was instrumental in leading the integration of a number of new businesses into the Mediahuis group, appointed CEO of Telegraaf Media Groep (TMG) the Dutch media group which was acquired by Mediahuis in 2017 and most recently as CEO of INM, now Mediahuis Ireland, following the Mediahuis acquisition in 2019. Marc handed over his CEO role to Peter Vandermeersch in August 2022 to take up a strategic role within the wider Mediahuis Group.
Martine Vandezande
With a passion for people, marketing, communication and HR, Martine Vandezande has acquired a lot of expertise in various management positions in media, publishing, industrial products and technology-driven environments, as well as in a service context. After obtaining her Master’s degree in Communication Science, Martine started her career as a global marketing communications professional at tech company Agfa, where she moved to her role as Vice President Human Resources of Agfa Graphics. Later at SD Worx she was Chief Marketing Officer for Belgium and internationally. During her career, Martine has attended several master classes at both the Antwerp Management School and Harvard Business School. Martine has been Mediahuis groups HR Director since 2016, where she combines her (international) experience and strong inspirational leadership with a focus on results, strategic insight and a passion for innovation.
Gert Ysebaert
As a media professional, Gert Ysebaert has spent his entire life working in the media industry, combining his passion with a professional career. After obtaining his master’s degree in Communication and completing it with an Executive MBA, Gert held various management positions, mainly within the Corelio publishing group. He was publisher of De Standaard, Belgium’s largest quality newspaper, and Het Nieuwsblad, the second largest popular newspaper in Belgium. When Corelio and Concentra joined forces in 2014 to form Mediahuis, Gert Ysebaert was appointed CEO. Over the past years he has led the Mediahuis organization on its path to further digital growth of its services and brands. Under his leadership Mediahuis has evolved into a leading international multimedia company.
Mediahuis Ireland Executive Committee
Peter Vandermeersch
Peter Vandermeersch, former Editor-in-Chief and director of the Dutch news media group NRC Media, was appointed Publisher and member of the Mediahuis Ireland Executive Committee in 2019. In August 2022 he took over the role of CEO from his predecessor, Marc Vangeel, who remains as a Board Director. Mr Vandermeersch in his role as Publisher for the last 3 years was responsible for the long-term strategy of Mediahuis Ireland’s news titles, overseeing the digital transformation of its news brands, the continued development of its print titles as well as their overall brand positioning, leaving him well positioned to transition into the CEO role. Mr Vandermeersch has spent almost three decades as a journalist and was editor-in-chief of the Belgian newspaper De Standaard before taking up his role with NRC in 2010.
Email: pvandermeersch@mediahuis.ie
Ian Keogh
Ian Keogh, Chief Operations Officer, joined the group in 1991 working in several senior Circulation and Marketing roles within the publishing side of the business, and subsequently taking on the role of CEO of Reach Group, Mediahuis Ireland’s wholesale and distribution business. Mr Keogh joined the Mediahuis Ireland Executive Committee in July 2021 with specific responsibility for all logistical matters related to printing and distribution across the Irish group. Mr Keogh also takes Executive responsibility for the Group’s Circulation and Marketplaces businesses to drive forward strategy in these areas;
Email: i.keogh@reachgroup.ie