Pumpkin PR appoints Maureen Corish as Managing Director

Cristina Blanaru Business, People, PR

Pumpkin PR, the creative, media and tech specialist agency, has appointed former Penguin Random House Communications Director Maureen Corish as Managing Director.

With more than 20 years’ experience of leading communications for global organisations and world-class brands, including Penguin Random House, Emap PLC and the BBC, she will be responsible for leading Pumpkin’s strategic development and growing the client portfolio which includes the likes of M&C Saatchi, Ogilvy, 23red and Tribal Worldwide London. She will report directly to Pumpkin CEO Sarah Owen.

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After an early award-winning career in journalism, Corish moved into communications, first at the BBC and then at Emap PLC (now part of Bauer Media) as Communications Director for the music and broadcast division working on consumer brands including Kiss, Magic Radio and Smash Hits.

She built the Company’s profile during a fast-moving period of digital growth and multi-platform brand expansion, including launching the UK’s biggest digital radio network and a major music TV network, and was part of the brand team behind the relaunch of Magic 105.4 creating London’s most listened to commercial radio station.

In 2008 she joined The Random House Group as Group Communications Director, successfully navigating the business through unprecedented industry disruption with the birth of e-books and the shift to online retailing. She led all corporate communications including media relations and crisis communications on issues as diverse as Department of Justice and EC investigations into e-book pricing and the controversies around publishing 50 Shades of Grey.

In 2013 she led UK & International communications for the £2.45 billion merger of Penguin Books and Random House and was subsequently appointed as Communications Director for the combined group, responsible for the UK, Australia, New Zealand, India and South Africa.

She established the post-merger narrative of the combined business, created the Group’s consumer insight department, and helped repurpose the iconic Penguin Books brand for its new digital-first consumer strategy.

Since 2017 she has been a strategic consultant on projects as diverse as global HR communications for Micro Focus PLC and consultation for Manchester-based insight and innovation agency Humanise.

Owen said: “Maureen is the ultimate communications professional who combines creativity with strategic delivery, commercial insight and journalistic know-how. She is an expert storyteller, exceptional in a crisis and has proven board-level leadership expertise. She is the perfect choice to help Pumpkin continue to deliver for our existing clients and spearhead our next phase of growth.”

Corish said: “Sarah and the talented Pumpkin team have a richly deserved reputation for being creative, connected and tenacious – couple this with their ambitious growth plans and the opportunity to join them as their new Managing Director was irresistible.”