dmg media Ireland has selected 40 brilliant young minds in the marketing industry as part of the 40 Under 40 series.

Melissa Byrne - head of media, Sky Ireland

Melissa has over 14 years of experience in media and marketing. After earning her BSc in Marketing from DIT, she spent eight years at leading agency groups like Dentsu, Core, and Omnicom, honing her media and strategic expertise.

Byrne then made the switch to client-side roles, first with Aviva and later to Sky as the first media specialist within the marketing function at Sky Ireland.

She has successfully built and now leads Ireland's largest in-house media team.

As the head of media planning & marketing performance at Sky, Byrne leads campaign planning and marketing performance across the entire Sky product range, including TV & entertainment, broadband, mobile, sports, and NOW.

She has redefined media strategy for Sky Ireland, with a big focus on data driven strategies and campaign effectiveness.

Her strategic vision and passion for media, data & marketing measurement have delivered exceptional results across both brand and commercial outcomes.

• Hobbies: Travelling, skiing, health & wellness, personal and professional development
• Best piece of advice ever received: Everything is temporary – both the good and the bad, so live in the moment, embrace change and know tough times will pass
• Why you love your job: My favourite thing about my job is the broad portfolio of products I work on, so every campaign is different and exciting, and there’s so much opportunity for new thinking.
• Motto for life: You can do anything you put your mind to.

Colin McGough - marketing communications manager, OUTsurance

Colin McGough started his career as a Jameson Graduate, which saw him take up roles in Pernod Ricard in Florida, followed by Bangalore and Mumbai, India.

After two years in India, he then moved to Dubai to head up trade marketing for the Pernod brands in duty-free in the region, and in 2016, he became marketing manager for a local alcohol distributor, African and Eastern, managing a portfolio of whiskey brands across the UAE.

After over six years in Dubai, he moved home and took up a role with Richmond Marketing, managing the Peroni brand, and following this, he moved to Bulmer’s, where he managed Budweiser and Corona. 

The partnership with the College Football Classic and the launch of Corona draught are two notable projects he is proud to have worked on.

In 2024, seeking to move away from the drinks sector, he moved to OUTsurance, he has played a key part in the brand launch and the above-the-line campaign that is currently airing.

A proud Dub, McGough lives in Wexford with his wife and two young kids.

• Hobbies: I have two young kids, so they keep me busy. I took up running during Covid and love what it gives me.
• Best piece of advice ever received: “Keep the main thing the main thing."
• Why you love your job: I love my job with OUTsurance because I have had the opportunity to be part of something from ground zero.
• Motto for life: Enjoy your family, your health and don’t take it too seriously

Richard Miley - head of marketing communications, Mails & Parcels, An Post

Richard Miley leads marketing strategies across both consumer and business markets, with a strong focus on innovating with mail and the growth of e-commerce.

Over the past few years, he has been involved in communicating the company’s transformation to our customers - developing award-winning campaigns for B2B, Christmas, and e-commerce that connect and celebrate all the products and services from An Post.

As it is An Post's most important trading period, Christmas has been at the heart of his career for several years, with campaigns like With Love to Alison in Vietnam and Tin Man capturing the hearts of the nation.

Miley has led the change in An Post's business communications, positioning the company as an expert business partner for Irish exporters and global businesses of all sizes.

Throughout his time at An Post, Miley has championed marketing effectiveness, winning two silver Effies while communicating An Post's products and services in innovative and relevant ways to engage the nation.

His role is all about bringing modern thinking to delivery services - ensuring An Post's values and offerings meet the evolving needs of today’s customers.

• Hobbies: Running and going to the gym have become meaningful hobbies for me.
• Best Piece of Advice Ever Received: "Be yourself; everyone else is already taken."
• Why You Love Your Job: I’m incredibly grateful to work on a team where I’m surrounded by thoughtful leaders, sharp minds, and people who encourage me to be fully myself every single day.
• Motto for Life: "Don’t stop now—you’re almost there!"