Acast appoints Jennifer Dollard as Content Director, Ireland

Acast today announces the appointment of Jennifer Dollard as Content Director Ireland (pictured above), to lead Acast’s podcast development efforts in the market. Dollard will work with Ireland’s most loved and listened-to podcasters, as well as bring both new and established podcasting talent to the Acast Creator Network. She has been promoted from her previous role as Senior Content Development Manager.

Dollard will work closely with creators to establish Acast’s position as the creator-first podcast company, and the home for podcasters who want access to global audiences across every listening platform, the best technology, growth support, and a wide range of monetisation options — including advertising and sponsorship, and fan-supported tools such as Acast+.

As part of Acast’s further investment into Ireland’s thriving podcasting industry, Acast has also hired Hannah O’Connell as Associate Partner Manager. O’Connell, who will work closely with Dollard, previously worked at Bauer Media Ireland as Social & Digital Media Manager. She was also a presenter at SPIN 1038, and is the host of the popular Line of Duty fan podcast Shrine of Duty.

Jennifer Dollard, Content Director, Acast Ireland, said: “We have more than our fair share of talented creators on this small but mighty island, and Acast is proud to be home to many of its best shows. I’ve worked with Ireland’s inimitable podcasters for three wonderful years, and this next step will allow me to more closely influence podcast development here. Podcasting is maturing at a rapid rate and Acast is leading the charge, putting creators first and ensuring they’re fairly rewarded for their craft.”

Since launching on-the-ground operations in Ireland at the end of 2019, Acast has seen the market flourish both in terms of content and commercial growth — and Acast listening data shows that its podcasts enjoy over 7.5 million listens in Ireland every month.

Home to Ireland’s most popular podcasts — such as The Blindboy Podcast, Caroline Foran’s Owning It, and Irish History Podcast — Acast has further strengthened its Irish network with recent marquee signings including The Irish Times, and The Witness Podcast. Thanks to Acast+, the new suite of monetization options for creators of all sizes, fellow new signing The Tommy, Hector & Laurita Podcast recently introduced bonus content to paying subscribers.

Advertisers in Ireland are also embracing the opportunity that podcasting offers, and Acast’s work here is helping increase revenue for its Irish podcasters. Micheál Scully, Acast Ireland’s Director of Sales, has overseen rapid commercial growth in the market, with the company recording a 58% increase in brand spend in 2020, alongside 184% year-on-year growth in the number of brands spending £100,000 or more on ad campaigns with Acast.