Susie Horgan

Managing Director & Founder

Susie works directly with our leadership teams, providing strategic counsel and support in the areas of reputation management, message shaping, strategic communications, and crisis and issues management.

A communications professional with over 25 years’ experience, she offers insight into how effective communications (both internal and external) can help achieve our clients’ business objectives.

Susie is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland along with being the Hon. Secretary of the Cork Chamber, Board member of Fota Wildlife Park and Board member of the Public Relations Consultants Association.

Something you didn’t know about Susie – she is a champion showjumper

Pat Lucey

Advisory Board Member

Pat Lucey, a project professional and entrepreneur, is a certified Company Director and advisor in professional services. Pat was co-founder of Aspira, an international consultancy delivering technology, project management and business advisory services. He served as CEO and chair of the business until 2022, overseeing its growth from a six-person, Irish-only organisation to a 280-person international firm.

Pat’s academic background includes degrees in engineering from the University of Limerick, a diploma in business management and an executive development diploma. Pat was also a finalist for EY Entrepreneur of the Year 2020.

Pat is president emeritus of the PMI Ireland Chapter, where he served as director and/or president for 10 years, and is the first Irish person to be elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the global PMI.

Something you didn’t know about Pat – He’s a (distant) blood relative of JFK

Rory Dennis

Advisory Board Member

Rory is the co-founder of the digital experience management company, Amplience. Started in London in 2008, Amplience became one of the leading CMS companies for brands and retailers such as GAP, Primark, Coach, Argos, Halford’s and The Very Group.

Rory opened the North American business for Amplience in 2013 and grew the NA team to 40 people and $15M in ARR.

Having exited to private equity in 2022, Rory returned to his native Cork where he is now an advisor to early-stage tech and related companies.

Something you didn’t know about Rory – He is a keen hiker, golfer, and ‘gig-goer’, with ambitions to be a great padel player one day.

Sandy Boundy

Director of Strategy & Insight

Sandy Boundy is Director of Strategy and Insight at Springboard.

Over 23 years’ experience working in blue chip FMCG multinational organisations, Sandy has worked on domestic and global brands in a career encompassing marketing management, innovation, product development and strategic planning.

She has worked in Corporate Affairs, leading corporate communications and creating award-winning internal communications strategy and campaigns. In addition, she was responsible for embedding sustainability with all key internal and external stakeholders. She also lectured part-time in Munster Technological University, was a founding member of the Institute of Internal Communication, Ireland and is currently an active member of the Purpose Disruptors Ireland PR Community.

Something you didn’t know about Sandy – she received an award from An Taoiseach for coming 1st in her Diploma in Business Studies in UCD

Sarah Horgan

Senior Consultant, Dublin

Sarah is an accomplished corporate affairs leader with over 15 years of diverse experience in strategic communications, media relations, reputation management and employee engagement. Sarah has worked in communications agencies in Dublin and London and as Head of Corporate Affairs for a multinational company.

Sarah has proven success in creating and executing local and global communications, marketing, content and public affairs campaigns for leading brands, organisations, and charities.

Sarah holds a BSc in Government and Public Policy from UCC, a MSc in International Politics from Bristol University and most recently completed a Diploma in Sustainable Business from Glasgow Caledonian University.

Something you didn’t know about Sarah – She is sea swimmer and has braved the Liffey Swim 4 times

Cathy Riordan

Senior Client Director

Cathy Riordan is Senior Client Director with Springboard. She is a communications consultant with more than 20 years’ experience – specialising in strategic communication, media and stakeholder engagement and issues management across corporate, B2B and technology clients. Before joining Springboard, Cathy managed a small communications consultancy working with a global client portfolio, following 10 years with two Dublin based agencies, as Associate Director.

Cathy was awarded the IMI professional diploma in management in 2021 and is currently undertaking a certificate in change leadership with TUS. She holds a Masters in Women’s Studies and BA Hons from UCD.

Something you don’t know about Cathy – She moved from Dublin to Cork 12 years ago and hasn’t looked back since

Ciara Flaherty

Associate Director

Ciara Flaherty is Associate Director with Springboard Communications. A former journalist, she devises and manages strategic external and internal communications campaigns for a range of clients across sectors, including technology, life sciences, financial services and healthcare. ​

With an MA in Media and Communications and an undergraduate degree in Law from University College Cork, she is a full-member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland and the Institute of Internal Communication.​

Something you didn’t know about Ciara – she has a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do

Maria Tracey

Client Director

Maria is a Client Director with Springboard. She specialises in the creation and execution of strategic communications, maximising her clients’ brands and achieving measurable marketing results. She has over 10 years’ experience working in Irish media, and brings her passion for creating engaging content to her role at Springboard.

Something you didn’t know about Maria – she has run ten marathons

Maeve Ahern O’Neill

Executive Assistant/Office Manager

Maeve has years of experience in office management and as an executive assistant to higher-level managers. Coming from a communications and marketing background, Maeve creates and fosters sustainable relationships with teams and clients whilst maintaining the highest standards of professionalism.

Beyond her corporate role, Maeve is deeply passionate about personal branding. In 2018, she founded The Branding of Me, leveraging her Master’s Degree in Digital Humanities from University College Cork.

Something you didn’t know about Maeve – She is a huge Avengers/Marvel fan

Cathal O’Carroll

Senior Client Manager

With nearly a decade of communications experience, Cathal is a Senior Client Manager at Springboard.​ ​He spent seven years in Australia holding both in-house and agency roles. His most recent position was with the telecommunications company Telstra, where he was a Senior Corporate Relations Advisor.​ ​Previous to that, Cathal was a Senior Account Manager at Herd MSL, where he helped devise communications strategies for global brands such as Meta, Salesforce and Schneider Electric. ​

​A native of Kerry, Cathal started his career in the Road Safety Authority as a PR and Digital Media Executive. He holds a Master’s degree in International Public Relations and Global Communications Management from Cardiff University. ​

Something you didn’t know about Cathal — He is a dual citizen, becoming an Australian citizen in 2022

Lisa Kerr

Client Manager

Lisa is a Senior Client Executive with Springboard Communications, specialising in communications and digital activities for clients spanning various industries. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Music, Media and Performance Technology and boasts project management experience across the TV, animation, and influencer marketing sectors.

Something you didn’t know about Lisa – She contributed to an animated series where a former US president and his wife served as Executive Producers.

Chloe Kavanagh

Senior Client Executive

Chloe is a Senior Client Executive with Springboard Communications. Her background includes both agency and in-house roles, where she has gained experience across project management, content creation, social media strategy and management, operations, event management, website development, and brand development.

She holds a First-Class Honours MA in Public Relations with New Media from MTU and a BA in English and German from University College Cork, along with a QQI Award in Event Management.

Something you didn’t know about Chloe – she is always talking about horses.

Deirdre Fitzgerald

Senior Client Executive

Deirdre is a Senior Client Executive at Springboard with a wealth of experience encompassing proactive media relations, analysis, content creation, production, event management, and social media management. She holds a Bachelor of Business in Marketing from UL and an MA in Public Relations and New Media from MTU.

Something you didn’t know about Deirdre – she loves all kinds of music, from rock to jazz to techno to Disney to IL Divo. You name it, she’ll listen to it.

Anthony Malone

Client Executive

Anthony is a Client Executive at Springboard, focusing on communications activities for a diverse client portfolio. He holds an MA in Public Relations with New Media and a BA in Creative Digital Media from MTU. Anthony is dedicated to delivering tangible results for clients, across both external and internal communications platforms.

Something you didn’t know about Anthony – he collects CDs and Vinyls

David Kitching

Public Affairs Consultant

David is a Public Affairs Consultant for Springboard Communications. Since returning to Ireland in 2016, he has held various senior roles in government relations, strategic communication and media management in the corporate, NGO and community sectors. He was a Director of Social & Political Research at a London-based public opinion research agency, where he ran research projects across more than 30 countries. For 6 years, he was a policy advisor at a prominent think tank in Brussels and in the European Parliament.

He holds an MSc in Comparative Politics (Distinction) from the London School of Economics and an International BA (First class honours) in History & Politics from University College Dublin. He was a Fellow of the 2022 Global Messaging Programme for campaign communicators and is a member of the Public Relations Institute of Ireland, and a board member of the Museum of Childhood Ireland.

Something you didn’t know about David – he was a volunteer delivery driver of school meals during Covid-19.