![]() |
| Leo Varadkar |
Former two-time Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar will join the global advisory board of DC’s Penta Group on April 10.
Leading Ireland from 2017 to 2020 and from 2022 to 2024, Varadkar championed social reforms such as the national vote on legalizing same-sex marriages and repealing restrictions on abortions.
He also helped the country navigate the COVID-19 crisis, and secured the “Brexit Withdrawal Agreement” that ensured there would be no hard border between the Republic and British-controlled Northern Ireland.
A medical doctor by training, Varadkar also held government posts including Transport, Tourism & Sport; Health; Social Protection; and Enterprise, Trade & Employment; and served as Tánaiste (deputy prime minister).
Penta CEO Matt McDonald said Varadkar’s “experience at the highest levels of government will enhance our ability to provide data-driven advice and solutions to help clients navigate today’s increasingly complex global environment.”


Nate Gatten, executive VP at American Airlines, will join Apple on Aug. 31 as VP-government affairs.
The Ogilvy Group names WPP Open X global communications & marketing director Nicole Parkinson as global head of marketing and promotes SVP, creative communications Kappie Kopp to global head of communications... Creativ Company appoints Sarah Saul as VP of marketing and communications. Saul joins the firm from Roku... Insulet, a medical device company, adds Joan Campion, Adam Feigen and Jane Hoffman to its communications team.
Otter.ai, an AI notetaker that turns the spoken words from meetings into searchable intelligence, automated action items and agentic workflows, names Alex Gay CMO... Disney Consumer Products promotes Joss Hastings to SVP, marketing... Shoe Station Group, which operates 422 stores in 35 states and Puerto Rico, appoints Tracy Dick as CMO.
Chelsey Thomas, who was a VP at Booz Allen Hamilton and a professional staff member on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, is joining defense technology company AEVEX as VP of government affairs.
Finn Partners has named Fahlgren Mortine veteran Marty McDonald as managing partner and head of its new Columbus office.



