Allianz Business to Arts Awards 2012 shortlist announced
The winners of the 2012 Allianz Business to Arts Awards will be announced on 4 September at the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre. These awards seek to recognise the importance of arts and business organisations working together on projects. Stuart McLaughlin, chief executive of Business to Arts , said: “This year’s shortlisted projects reflect the ability of art to join ‘communities’ in the very broadest sense of that word. Whether it is through technology, music, performance art or commissioned pieces of artwork we see businesses of every size and from every community acting as facilitators through their sponsorship and support. Their employees, who act as participants or champions of their projects facilitate the production of art that…
Read MoreIrish have mixed feelings about corruption – Eurobarometer
People in Ireland have mixed feelings about corruption, according to a new Eurobarometer survey carried out for the European Commission. Just 55pc of Irish people think corruption is unavoidable and has always existed, which is the second lowest rate in Europe after the Czech Republic at 46pc, and well below the EU average of 70pc. However, 86pc of Irish respondents believe corruption is a major problem in their country, compared with the EU average 74pc, and a one point increase since the 2009 survey. The Greeks (98pc), Portuguese and Cypriots (both 97pc) and Hungarians and Romanians (both 96pc) were most likely to think that corruption was a major problem in…
Read MoreTimothy Björklund, Director
Kavaleer Productions has appointed former Disney director and producer, Timothy Björklund, as director of its Dublin-based studios. San Francisco-native Björklund – a two-time Emmy award winner (Outstanding Animation category) for his work on the Disney’s TV series, Teachers Pet – has worked as a professional animator, writer, director and producer for more than 25 years. He trained in animation and film graphics at California Institute of the Arts before getting his first job in 1984 as an assistant animator with Colossal Pictures. Four years later he began directing. In 2010, he was in Dublin to direct the Nickelodeon Jr series, Olivia, at Brown Bag Films.
Read MoreConor Kilduff, Non-Executive Director
Appointment Date: 09.02.2012Company: FMIBusiness Type: Field ManagementPosition: Non-Executive Director Conor Kilduff has been appointed non-executive director at Irish field management company, FMI. Kilduff’s key role as a member of FMI’s board of directors will be to add an innovative commercial and strategic insight into the overall offering of the company. Kilduff is also currently the sales and marketing director with the Keelings Group, an organisation that employs over 1,700 people across Ireland, the UK and the Netherlands. Prior to taking up his role with Keelings, Kilduff worked for 24 years in Unilever Ireland, where he held a series of sales and marketing positions. In May 2009, he became managing director…
Read MoreDigital Realty acquires 10-acre development in West Dublin
Global data centre solutions provider Digital Realty Trust has acquired a 10-acre development site in Profile Park in Dublin 22. The site is capable of supporting the phased development of approximately 11.5 megawatts of data centre space across four buildings, totalling around 193,000 square feet of space. “Dublin remains an important data centre market for both local and multinational corporations, including large technology and Internet companies as well as IT service providers,” said Michael F Foust, CEO of Digital Realty. “Using our phased development approach, this site will enable us to support our customers’ expanding data centre needs by bringing data centre space online efficiently in terms of both time…
Read MoreSmurfit Kappa revenues up 10pc in 2011; pre-tax profits rise 190pc
Smurfit Kappa Group (SKG) this morning reported a 10pc increase in its full year revenue in 2011 to 7.357bn and pre-tax profits of 299m, up over 190pc from 103m in 2010. “We are pleased to report EBITDA growth of 12pc to €1,015m and pre-exceptional EPS growth of 69pc to €1 for the full year of 2011,” said Gary McGann, Smurfit Kappa Group CEO. “Our strong free cash flow generation delivered a net debt reduction of €358m to €2.75bn in 2011, which exceeded our net debt reduction target. Lower net debt combined with a strong EBITDA outcome delivered a reduction of our net debt to EBITDA ratio to 2.7x at year-end.”…
Read MoreFacebook hires first chief marketing officer
Facebook has reportedly hired Rebecca Van Dyck as its first ever chief marketing officer. Van Dyck has been CMO for Levi’s at Levi Strauss & Co since April 2011 and during that time has worked on jeans brand’s ‘Go Forth’ campaign. Before joining Levi’s, she was senior director, worldwide marketing communications and advertising, at Apple. During her time there, she worked on the launches of a range of products, including the iPhone and the iPad. She joined Apple in 2007 after spending 12 years at Wieden+Kennedy, where she was a global account director for Nike. She is credited with being a primary architect of Nike’s ‘Just Do It’ campaign. Van…
Read MoreGlobally focused start-ups to create 300 jobs at NovaUCD
Some 37 globally-focused start-ups based at NovaUCD expect to create 300 highly-skilled jobs over the next two years, which will more than double the number of people currently employed there. NovaUCD’s high-tech companies are all focused on international markets. For example, HeyStaks and Tethras also have offices in Silicon Valley in addition to their HQs in NovaUCD and Equinome is providing its equine genetic tests to thoroughbred horse breeders and owners not only in Ireland but also in the UK, France, Russia, Australia, the US, New Zealand and Singapore. The employment projection figures are based on the results of an annual employment survey of companies based at the centre. There…
Read MoreAer Arann adds two new routes, increases flight frequencies
Aer Arann adds two new routes, increases flight frequencies Aer Arann is to add two new Aer Lingus Regional routes to its summer schedule, as well as increasing frequencies on nine of its existing routes. The two routes to be operated by Aer Arann under its franchise agreement with Aer Lingus are Dublin-Bournemouth from 1 May, which will oeprate six times a week, and Shannon-Rennes, which will operate once a week as a summer seasonal route from 9 June to 1 September. Aer Arann will increase frequencies on nine of its Aer Lingus Regional services to: Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Blackpool, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol and Rennes. “Aer Arann is committed to providing its customers with easy, convenient…
Read MoreGoogle & Twitter Gives Egypt Alternative to Connect to the Web
Google and Twitter have launched a service in Egypt which allows citizens to communicate with each other and the outside world despite restricted Internet access. The Egyptian administration cut off the country’s Internet connection in an attempt to curb contact between activists and citizens. However, Internet giants Google and Twitter have stepped in and launched a service which allows people to send Twitter messages by leaving a voicemail for a specific number. The two organizations have teamed up to get the project off the ground. The new service uses Google’s speech-to-text recognition capability to automatically translate a message left on the number. It will then be sent out on Twitter…
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