Managing Director

Dublin, Ireland | Full-time | Hybrid - Min 3 days per week in office

Reporting to: Founder/CEO Catalyst Media 

About Catalyst Media

Catalyst Media Group is the owner and operator of leading media, events and C-suite engagement platforms, including Business & Finance, Dublin Tech Summit, The European Motor Show, The Financial Services Awards, The Spider Awards, The Business & Finance Leadership Awards, The Principals Club, as well as the well-established BusinessandFinance.com thought leadership platform. Catalyst Media operates across events, C-suite engagement, publishing, digital content and recognition. The company connects senior business and technology communities across Ireland and internationally. Catalyst Media operates in Dublin, London and New York. 

The business is at a pivotal point, leveraging its core brand assets while embracing exciting new media opportunities via fast-evolving tools, including AI, opening a number of expansion options for the business. Catalyst Media has an established portfolio of brands, a dynamic team and both a loyal and expanding audience. 

Catalyst Media is now seeking a Managing Director to direct and drive the business into this exciting new chapter of commercial, operational, technological and cultural growth both domestically and internationally. 

The Opportunity

This is a hands-on leadership role for an experienced senior executive who has managed a dynamic and growing business through change, with the ability to position and transition established and new assets towards sustainable revenue. The Managing Director will have full commercial and operational responsibility for the business, working closely with the company’s Founder/CEO along with the business's leadership team to drive innovation, expansion and performance across all divisions.

The right person will be a lateral thinker, commercially astute, culturally confident, people-first and operationally credible. They will bring fresh thinking without discarding what works, and will have the conviction to make difficult decisions with clarity and pace.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the development and execution of a clear growth strategy across the company's portfolio of events, media and digital assets
• Identify and develop new revenue streams, partnerships and market opportunities in Ireland and internationally
• Maintain a strong external profile, representing Catalyst Media at a senior level with clients, partners and stakeholders

Commercial Performance

• Take ownership of the company's P&L, driving revenue growth and improving profitability across all business lines
• Oversee sponsorship, partnership and advertising revenue, ensuring commercial targets are met
• Work with the Head of Sales and wider team to build and convert a healthy commercial pipeline

Operational Management

• Provide clear direction and accountability across all functions: sales, events, editorial, design, marketing, finance and operations
• Streamline and strengthen internal processes, systems and reporting to support scale
• Manage the annual budget cycle and ensure the business operates within its means while investing for growth

People & Culture

• Lead, develop and retain a talented and committed team, building a culture of high performance and clear expectations
• Work constructively with all heads of department, with particular focus on aligning the sales and events functions
• Transition all teams to a min of 3 days per week in the office 

Change Management

• Lead the company through a period of transition with confidence and transparency
• Assess the current portfolio critically and make informed decisions about where to invest, evolve or consolidate
• Build trust across the team during a period of change, maintaining momentum and morale

The Person

We are looking for a senior leader who brings:

• Proven experience as a Managing Director, CEO or equivalent in an SME environment — ideally in events, media, publishing or a related sector
• A track record of leading organisations through periods of change or growth, with demonstrable commercial results
• Strong understanding of events and/or media business models, including sponsorship, partnerships and B2B sales
• The ability to work at both strategic and operational levels — equally comfortable in a board conversation and on the floor of a live event
• Excellent people leadership skills, with experience managing multi-functional teams and creating accountability
• Financial literacy and hands-on experience managing a P&L
• An instinct for brand and audience, with appreciation for what makes Catalyst Media's portfolio distinctive
• Confidence, clarity and the interpersonal skills to build strong relationships internally and externally

What We Offer

• The opportunity to take the helm of one of Ireland's most established media and events businesses at a pivotal moment
• A portfolio of recognised, market-leading brands with loyal audiences and strong industry relationships
• A talented and dedicated team with deep expertise across events, content, design and sales
• Competitive remuneration package commensurate with experience
• Based in Dublin, with flexibility appropriate to the seniority of the role