Vanessa O’Connor has been appointed to the new role of Director of Member Relations and Communications at the EBU.

A highly experienced executive, Vanessa has worked in international corporate communications for thirty years.

She joins the EBU from Eutelsat where, as Corporate Communications Director, she took part in key phases of its development, including restructuring from a European intergovernmental organisation into a private company and the expansion of Eutelsat’s global activities across video, telecommunications and broadband markets.

Vanessa managed an international team operating out of Eutelsat’s Head Office in Paris where she developed and implemented company-wide communications strategies targeting diverse stakeholders in both commercial and public sector environments.

In her new role, she will be responsible for strengthening the EBU’s relations with Members and developing a long-term communications strategy for the EBU, and for public service media in general. 

EBU Director General Noel Curran said: “Vanessa is going to be a real asset to the Management Team here at the EBU. We are a Member-led organisation and we need to ensure we are meeting the needs of all our Members, large or small, and communicating better about the range of services we provide.

“Vanessa brings with her a wealth of experience in corporate communications and we are looking forward to working with her to improve our engagement with all our stakeholders.”

Vanessa O'Connor added: “I'm delighted to be joining the EBU and to have the opportunity to work for an organisation and a community of Members that set the benchmark for excellence and vision in the media industry.

"The EBU’s exceptional range of activities reflects a commitment to maintaining Public Service Media relevant and at the top of its game. I look forward to being part of this effort and to working with the talent at the EBU to meet the diverse needs of Members as they evolve and grow in fast-moving and challenging environments.”

Prior to joining Eutelsat in 1988, Vanessa worked in London as Editor-in-Chief of Digital TV Europe, the first pan-European publication on new media. She graduated in Modern Languages from the University of Oxford and speaks English, French and German. She will take up her new role on June 1st.