Acorn’s international strategic director Estelle Gorby has been voted the inaugural winner of the Doyenne award launched by IAPI to find the ‘women of tomorrow’ who are making a difference and who have the potential to become an industry leader in the future. The winner was chosen by an industry panel and selected from a shortlist of seven candidates working in a cross-section of advertising-related disciplines.
The two runners-up were Mindshare’s Jill Robinson and Leah O’Donoghue, Cawley NeaTBWA.
Deirdre Waldron, managing director of Cawley NeaTBWA and chair of the judging panel, said Gorby was the unanimous choice, as she embodies all the required elements and shows exceptional leadership. As co-founder of Acorn, she created a balanced and successful workplace for one of Ireland’s fastest-growing agencies. “What convinced us most was her inspirational approach to developing talent,” Waldron said.
The other four finalists were Dena Walker, Irish International; Nicola Gillen, MediaVest; Maria Scannell, Mirror Media Ireland and Catriona Campbell, The Social House. The judging panel also included Gervaise Slowey, Communicorp; Jimmy Murphy, Publicis; Margaret Ward, Clear Ink and Siobhán Lennon, The Sunday Business Post. The award, which will be presented annually, is run in association with The Sunday Business Post.
Jacquie Marsh of The Butlers Pantry was the guest speaker at the awards breakfast in Fallon & Byrne.
