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Orla Mitchell, the former CEO of WaterWipes, has been announced by Marketing Institute Ireland as its annual National Marketing Channel.

MII said Mitchell has made every business she has worked for more competitive by applying the basic principles of marketing, and that she has a track record of success with brands across different categories and stages of development.

Mitchell said she was "genuinely delighted and honoured" by the award. During her career, she has also worked for Nestlé and Mars-Wrigley, and she now holds non-executive director roles with O'Brien Fine Foods, Navi Group and Rose Confectionary.

“Orla is an exceptional CSuite business leader with unparalleled experience in global consumer packaged goods (CPG) strategy, marketing and business management," said Shane McGonigle, CEO of MII.

"Great marketers understand people, they know how to position brands to meet people’s needs, and critically, they can action this by marshalling the resources of the business to deliver success.

"Importantly, Orla has done this consistently over many years, in many categories and on many continents. She is a true marketing champion and exemplifies the real value that marketing brings to business.”

The Traitors watched by 2.1m on RTÉ

Over 2.1 million watched the first series of The Traitors Ireland on RTÉ television, and each episode averaged 557,000 viewers, making it one of the biggest hits in the broadcaster's history.

An estimated 732,000 viewers tuned in to watch as Oyin, Kelley and Vanessa were crowned winners after smoking out traitors Nick and Ben.

The reality show had a 50% audience share across live and time-shifted viewing, rising to 70% among the 18-44 age group.

The series has also generated over 4m streams to date on the RTÉ Player, including 89,000 live streams for the finale.

The Traitors Ireland Uncloaked, the discussion show that followed the main broadcast, has attracted a further 590,000 steams to date.

"We are thrilled that each episode of The Traitors Ireland was viewed by so many across linear TV and on the RTÉ Player. We were particularly delighted with the number of 15 -34 year olds who tuned in and with the volume of viewers who also wanted to catch up and hear more on The Traitors Ireland Uncloaked," said Gráinne McAleer, commissioning editor for factual and documentary series at RTÉ.

"The series was brilliantly produced by Kite Entertainment, and the collaboration between Kite and RTÉ really paid off, reminding viewers that our remit is to entertain as well as inform. 

"The Traitors Ireland would have been nothing without our brilliant Players who threw themselves completely into the game and distracted and entertained the country for the month of September.  There was someone for everyone in the cast, and we're really proud of the fact that the audience responded wholeheartedly to that."

Cooke to lead Ibec telco group

Nicola Cooke has been appointed to lead Telecommunications Industry Ireland (TII), the Ibec group representing the electronic communications sector.

Cooke will serve as director, and Three Ireland CEO Elaine Carey has been made chair of the TII Council.

Members of TII include providers of broadband, broadcasting, cable, fixed, mobile, satellite and wireless internet as well as tower companies, network providers and equipment manufacturers, among them large industry players such as Three, Vodafone, Sky, Eir, and Virgin Media.

Cooke is a former journalist (Irish Examiner, Cork Echo, Irish Independent, Business Post) and PR consultant who previously headed up corporate communications with National Broadband Ireland and Bus Éireann.

She has also been appointed as director of Audiovisual Ireland, the Ibec representative group for the screen industry (animation, independent film and television production, postproduction, television broadcasting and VFX).

"I'm looking forward to working with member companies and other stakeholders to highlight how important the telco sector is in providing the critical network infrastructure that underpins the Irish economy and enables a wider digital society," Cooke wrote on LinkedIn.

"I am also delighted to champion and work with Screen Ireland and others, to promote and support the work of our wonderful creative industries and talented production companies."

Thomas leaves Business Post for Independent

Cónal Thomas has left the Business Post to become a political correspondent with the Irish Independent and Sunday Independent.

Thomas previously worked as a reporter for the Dublin Inquirer and The Journal before joining the Business Post in late 2021, first as digital editor before being made political correspondent.

Writing on X, Thomas said he had four great years at the Business Post and that he was excited to start his new role with the Mediahuis-owned publications.

He is a graduate of UCD, earning a BA in History and Literature before completing a Master's degree in Literature.

EA taken private for $55bn

Electronic Arts, one of the largest gaming companies in the world, has been taken into private ownership by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), Silver Lake and Jared Kushner's Affinity Partners in a deal worth $55bn

The deal is believed to be the largest leveraged buyout in history, and the purchase price represents a 25% premium on EA's stock price of $168.32 per share, valuing it at $210 per share.

The transaction is also the second most valuable gaming purchase in history after Microsoft's $69bn deal to buy Call of Duty publisher Activision Bilzzard.

EA is best known for making the EA FC series, formerly known as Fifa, as well as games such as The Sims and Mass Effect.

“Our creative and passionate teams at EA have delivered extraordinary experiences for hundreds of millions of fans, built some of the world’s most iconic IP, and created significant value for our business. This moment is a powerful recognition of their remarkable work,” said EA CEO Andrew Wilson, who will remain in place.

“Looking ahead, we will continue to push the boundaries of entertainment, sports, and technology, unlocking new opportunities. Together with our partners, we will create transformative experiences to inspire generations to come. I am more energised than ever about the future we are building.”

Mr Tayto's first date attracts a young audience for Cornados campaign

Every week, Amárach and Future Proof Insights share exclusive findings from their PRIZM+ ad testing service, showcasing best practice creative advertising in Ireland.

Tayto’s new Cornados takes the brand’s iconic mascot and drops him into the middle of a first date gone wrong.

What starts as nervous silence in a diner quickly transforms into a surreal, comic performance when Mr. Tayto delivers a pack of Cornados.

The crisps become a musical wind instrument, the boy becomes confident, and the girl is swept up in the magic.

It’s a classic Tayto move, leaning on humour and character to launch a new product.

Neuroscience data shows the ad delivers strong peaks where surprise and humour collide.

To learn more about the ad, CLICK HERE.

Photo: Orla Mitchell. (Pic: Supplied)