Paddy Power MD takes Ireland's top marketing award

Michelle Spillane, managing director of Paddy Power UK & Ireland, is named as Marketing Institute Ireland (MII) Marketing Champion 2027

MII champ: Michelle Spillane, MD of Paddy Power.

Michelle Spillane, managing director of Paddy Power UK & Ireland, has been named as Marketing Institute Ireland (MII) National Marketing Champion 2027.

Chosen for her contributions to marketing, innovation and business leadership, she has led marketing at Paddy Power since 2018, and is now MD across its online and retail businesses. She previously held senior roles at Disney, Warner Bros, RTÉ, Microsoft Ireland, Bank of Ireland and ITV.

Michelle said: “I’m hugely honoured to be named MII National Marketing Champion 2027. Marketing teaches you to spot opportunity before it is obvious, make bold decisions before you have certainty and build belief in something that doesn’t yet exist.

“It demands the imagination to see what a business could become and the commercial discipline to make it happen. There are few better training grounds for business leadership.” 

Michelle becomes the latest recipient of the prestigious title. Previous recipients include Gráinne Wafer of Diageo, Sharon Walsh of Heineken Ireland and Orla Mitchell, former CEO of Water Wipes and Global President of Gum & Mints at Mars Wrigley.

Shane McGonigle, CEO, Marketing Institute Ireland, said: “Michelle is an outstanding example of what the National Marketing Champion represents. She has demonstrated time and time again that marketing is not simply a communications function but a fundamental driver of brand, business and commercial success.”