Press Release: International Scaling focus for Platform94 as former EY Director appointed to Chief Executive role
Marie Donnellan’s international finance and business development expertise will be crucial in new role, alongside her vast hands-on experience with startup and scaling companies across the west and northwest
IRELAND: Platform94, the west of Ireland’s largest technology innovation centre, has today announced the appointment of former Ernst & Young (EY) Director, Marie Donnellan, as its new Chief Executive Officer. She will take up her new role tomorrow morning (Thursday), bringing more than 15 years’ international finance and business development experience to the position. In addition to her internationally-centric role with EY, Ms Donnellan has spent the last number of years working with entrepreneurs and companies across the midwest, west, and northwest, connecting businesses, helping them to collaborate, scale and grow. She brings this experience and expertise to her new role, and is committed to establishing Platform94 as an international centre of excellence for scaling technology businesses.
Joining Platform94 at a pivotal point on its growth journey, Ms Donnellan will build on the tremendous 30-year success story, further powering the regional ecosystem and enabling businesses from across Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, and the wider west and northwest region, to realise their global potential. Undoubtedly, her experience locally, nationally and internationally, will be of huge benefit. She intends to build on the inaugural Enterprise Ireland West NorthWest International Scaleup Programme – launched late last year by the Platform94 team – and to introduce a suite of international scaling services across the region, to help catapult businesses onto the global stage.
The announcement of Ms Donnellan’s appointment comes just weeks after Platform94’s 30th anniversary celebrations and opening of the new €5.2 million extension at its Galway headquarters. The extension was officially opened in late February by Minister Dara Calleary TD, growing its physical presence in Galway to 11 times its original scale. Formerly known as Galway Technology Centre (GTC), Platform94 was originally founded in 1994 to meet the needs of an emerging cluster of ICT companies outside the capital. It is owned by Galway Chamber and WestBIC, and supported by Enterprise Ireland.
Platform94 is recognised as a leader in accelerating innovation-driven enterprises in the west of Ireland. It recently significantly expanded its remit in facilitating the development and expansion of the tech cluster and knowledge economy across the entire western region.
A native of Co Clare but now living in Galway, Ms Donnellan has amassed a wealth of global business experience with EY. She has played a pivotal strategic role in the opening and subsequent expansion of its Galway office, whilst also spearheading the regional Entrepreneur of the Year programme across the midwest, west and northwest. At EY, her core focus was always on the global environment and she very much intends to carry that to Platform94.
“When it comes to business expansion, we should always be looking through an international lens. Ireland has a world-leading ecosystem for fostering innovation and providing support for startup entrepreneurs. However, when it comes to supporting established innovative businesses to scale internationally, I believe there is a gap in the ecosystem, especially at a regional level. At Platform94, we will strive to address that gap, providing businesses with a suite of international scaling support services, regardless of where their business is physically located. I look forward to helping businesses from all over the region, not only in identifying growth opportunities, but in recognising and addressing both internal and external barriers to growth,” said the incoming CEO.
“As a nation, we are naturally creative and entrepreneurial. I want to help showcase our world-class talent and innovations, escalating our efforts to attract more international investment,” she continued. “Entrepreneurship can be a lonely place. At Platform94, our highly talented team can provide those all-important links, helping businesses and key stakeholders to collaborate, and giving businesses the ideal platform for international growth.”
Congratulating Ms Donnellan on her appointment, Mr Dave Hickey, Chairperson of Platform94, said the Board was thrilled to welcome the new CEO. “Marie has vast experience and a proven track record. Her extensive strategic leadership, together with her financial and business development experience in a global-centric environment, will be of massive benefit. We look forward to seeing her lead Platform94 to expand its regional and national scale-up offerings, and to reach new heights in the international technology landscape over the coming years,” he added.