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In this sectionOur Team
Meet the Alternatives Team
Sandra Lawler: Managing Director
I set up Alternatives in 2000 with Aldagh McDonogh and have loved our exciting journey from start up to today (although I could have done without the economic crash if I’m honest!). As managing director of Alternatives I work closely with our team to deliver value for clients, helping them drive their business forward with the best market and customer expertise, and for marketers who are looking to evolve their careers.
We’re No 1 in the market, but are never complacent and we work hard to constantly evolve our offering. I love driving a results-oriented yet people-oriented business and have a great team of skilled marketers to help do just that.
Aldagh McDonogh: Director
I founded Alternatives with Sandra in 2000 and have really enjoyed seeing the Alternatives brand and business develop since then. In recent years I focused on driving the consulting side of the Alternatives, giving clients access to literally millions of euro of brainpower, as and when they needed it.
Although I am currently on a longer-term transformation assignment, I remain involved as a director in Alternatives and in its on-going strategic development.
Bernie Keogh: Director
I joined Alternatives in 2006, having spent a number of years working in brand management in two fantastic companies; Irish Distillers (part of Groupe Pernod Ricard) and L'Oreal in Paris, which gave me the opportunity to learn from some very talented people a lot about best practice consumer marketing (and French!). My background in marketing is very useful for understanding our clients needs, and my MA in philosophy, and postgradate diploma in international marketing also help. There has been a lot to be philosophical about in recent years!
Working in Alternatives gives me a privileged overview regarding marketing and employment trends across industry sectors. We really do have our finger on the pulse thanks to our great relationships within the marketing community.
The most rewarding aspect of the job is helping marketers be successful – however they define success – in their careers. It’s a tough market out there so people and companies need all the help they can get when it comes to succeeding and achieving goals – that's where we come in.
Ed Conmy: Director Alternatives Digital
I run Alternatives Digital, our online marketing, sales, development and advertising agency recruitment service for the digital industry in Ireland and abroad.
I have worked in online and telco marketing, corporate sales and specialist marketing recruitment before setting up Digital Times magazine and The Appys award show.
Digital is constantly changing and very vibrant. It is great to be helping people get their dream job using the latest social media and online marketing innovations.
Donal O'Donoghue: Head of Alternatives Recruitment
I joined Alternatives in 2011. I work closely with our team of business managers to deliver effective solutions to meet clients’ hiring needs. My focus is on ensuring that clients receive “best in class” service, with access to the best market talent, when their business needs it.
My career, prior to joining Alternatives, brings an ideal blend of marketing and recruitment expertise to the organisation. I was a Divisional Director of Europe’s largest privately owned recruitment organisation, Morgan McKinley and was previously a Director of HRM. I also headed the Marketing Department for one of Ireland’s leading construction and property development groups, with responsibility for marketing across its divisions and subsidiary companies.
Sorcha Coleman: Senior Business Manager
As senior business manager for Alternatives, I help organisations find the best senior marketers to meet their current marketing requirements be it on a permanent or interim basis. I also help senior marketers develop their careers by identifying opportunities for them and advising them on current market trends.
I have been part of the Alternatives team since 2007. Having completed a masters in marketing I was previously business development manager with a new start-up company and then spent two years travelling a lot of the globe as a sales & marketing manager for a medical recruitment organisation.
Being a marketer myself, I love keeping up to date with marketing activity in Dublin. I not only get a chance to work with Ireland’s best companies, but I also get to see the evolving skill sets in demand and follow who’s who in the market.
Lauren Fahy: Business Manager
I joined Alternatives in August 2010 as business manager and am responsible for working with clients across various industries on their needs for expert marketing talent for interim and permanent roles. I also meet with candidates on a regular basis to discuss their skill sets and work experience in order to advise them on roles which will progress their career. Additionally, I help drive all direct marketing activity.
After completing an MSc in advertising in 2007, I worked in the client service department of two leading Dublin advertising agencies. Prior to moving to Dublin, I spent four years with a NYC media company planning broadcast campaigns and began my career on Capitol Hill as a legislative intern for Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton.
Kristen Gilchrist: Business Manager
As a business manager in Alternatives, I work with top blue-chip clients to help them find the right person to join their marketing team. The best thing for me about Alternatives is that the focus is on helping marketers find jobs that progress them to the next level of their career. It is a people centric organisation where career management and relationship building are key components.
Before Alternatives I worked in market research both in the U.S and Australia. I went into this following a masters in marketing, realising a keen interest in analysing trends and behaviour. The transition to a customer-facing role has been fantastic and I thoroughly enjoy dealing with all marketers, both clients and candidates, on a one-to-one basis.
James Meehan: Business Researcher & Analyst
As business researcher and analyst in Alternatives most of my time is spent interpreting our business data to aid the team with decision-making and helping identify the latest “who’s who” in the marketing world.
What I like about working at Alternatives is the broad perspective on the marketing industry that we are exposed to. We see what’s changing and moving in all sectors and aspects of marketing which gives us an unparalleled knowledge of the Irish marketing sector.
Maureen McPoland: Finance & Operations Manager
As the finance & operations Manager in Alternatives I am responsible for matters financial. I ensure that all of our interim managers are paid on time, that our clients pay us on time and manage the all-important cash-flow of the company.
I started my career with a graduateship from the marketing Institute of Ireland in 1994. I then worked for 8 years in Ireland and the UK as an account manager in a variety of agencies in Ireland and the UK. I joined Alternatives in 2001 and slowly my role changed into a predominantly operations and financial one. I qualified as a CIMA Accountant in September 2010.
The best thing about Alternatives for me is seeing how the company has grown and changed from the early days. It has been a fascinating (and educational) experience to watch all of this activity from inside a busy Irish-owned enterprise.
Contact Us
So now you've met the team, please don't hesitate to give us a call on +353 (1) 661 8889 - be it about marketing recruitment, consulting, training, digital or outsourcing - we look forward to hearing from you!
The Alternatives team have over a century of marketing experience between them!
