She’ll succeed Peter Vandermeersch, who has been Irish CEO since 2022 and before that had served as Publisher of the Antwerp-based group’s Irish titles since the takeover of the former Independent News & Media plc in 2019.
The news was announced to staff on Wednesday morning. Peter Vandermeersch is moving to take on a new group-wide role as Mediahuis Fellow ‘Journalism and Society’.
He’d held a string of earlier senior roles at Mediahuis before coming to Ireland, including as editor-in-chief of De Standaard in Belgium and NRC in the Netherlands.
Peter Vandermeersch and Sheena Peirse
Today’s News in 90 Seconds, Wednesday, August 27
Sheena Peirse joined Mediahuis Ireland in 2019, initially as Digital Editorial Director, before that she held senior roles in UK broadcast media, including ITV and Channel 4, where she played a leading role shaping the digital strategy and content initiatives.
In her current role as Chief Customer Officer, she spearheaded strategic change across the subscription and marketing business, helping the company surpass 100,000 subscribers.
In her new role she will work closely with Mediahuis Ireland COO Ian Keogh and CFO Ross Murray, alongside the rest of the Mediahuis Ireland Executive Leadership Team.
“I am honoured to take on this role at such a pivotal time for our organisation and for journalism,” said Sheena.
“Peter and Ian have laid a strong foundation for our digital growth, and I look forward to building on that legacy with our talented teams across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Together, we will continue to deliver independent, high quality journalism that plays a relevant role in our readers’ lives.”
The CEO of Mediahuis Group, Gert Ysebaert, said Sheena Peirse has demonstrated exceptional leadership and vision in her role as Chief Customer Officer.
“Her deep understanding of both editorial and commercial strategy makes her uniquely positioned to lead Mediahuis Ireland into its next chapter. I wish her every success in this important role and look forward to the continued impact she will make on our organisation and the wider media landscape,” he said.
He said the appointments come against a backdrop of profound change in the media industry.
“At Mediahuis, we strongly believe journalism is a vital force for truth, connection, and democracy. This mission can no longer be taken for granted,” he said.
“That’s why we are launching the Mediahuis Fellowship ‘Journalism and Society’, a strategic role designed to reflect, challenge, connect, and inspire across brands, disciplines, and audiences. I’m delighted that Peter Vandermeersch will lead this initiative with the insight and vision he has consistently brought to our organisation.”
In his new role as Mediahuis Fellow ‘Journalism and Society’, Peter Vandermeersch will focus on keeping the group’s journalistic mission relevant, acting as a unifying force in an increasingly polarised society and making the value of journalism more visible.
“In this fellowship, I want to further strengthen Mediahuis’ position as a thought leader, addressing some of the industry’s key challenges—such as the relevance of journalism, its role in an era of polarisation, trust, press freedom, engaging with diverse audiences, and ensuring a sustainable future for local journalism—while exploring the responsible use of AI in newsrooms,” he said.