Mcor Chief Marketing Officer, Deirdre MacCormack has gained transatlantic experience with companies such as Panavision New York, Golden Books Entertainment, Carlsberg, Vodafone and Cadburys in a variety of marketing roles.
Deirdre brings a wealth of experience and a highly regarded reputation in marketing including social marketing, public relations, website marketing, content, events, sales enablement and lead generation.
Deirdre has been CMO since 2006 and has successfully launched three flagship products and brought Mcor to success in several business/marketing awards. Deirdre herself scooped silver in the 2015 Stevie Awards for Women in Business, in the category of Female Executive of the Year – Business Products.
Deirdre holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and the Conlon Memorial Gold Medal Award for outstanding achievement in her Masters of Science in Advertising degree from Dublin Institute of Technology. Deirdre is Deputy Chair on the Fab Foundation Ireland (FFI) board
Nora Toure: Deirdre, could you let us know about your background and what brought you to 3D printing in the first place?
Deirdre MacCormack: I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Marketing and a Masters of Science in Advertising. I traveled quite a lot during my studies so once finished I was New York-bound where I held a variety of marketing roles in companies such as Panavision New York and Golden Books Entertainment. I also worked in the advertising industry on accounts such as Carlsberg, Vodafone, and Cadburys.
Truth be known I was born with an entrepreneurial streak – my Father managed his own business for over 50 years and I was always inspired by his vision, drive and work ethic. I love the idea of starting something from scratch and nurturing, building it up and making a difference.
I spent my summers in between college years in the US working – managing a small business that was very profitable – I had seen the power of an opportunity, drive, and a good work ethic – I was hungry for more!
So when Conor presented his idea for a 3D printer to me I felt this could be the idea that we would drive all the way. I conducted market research in Ireland, US, and the UK. The results were overwhelming – there positively was a need and desire for a paper-based printer (some of the respondents in this research became our first customers!).
Conor and Fintan worked on the concept for about two years part-time – and when I talk about our first in-house machine, well it was actually in my house!
Although I am not from a technical background I was immersed in every step of product development. We then came to a fork in the road – do we leave our jobs and do this full time?
I was pregnant with my second child at the time and I said to Conor, ‘let’s go for it’ – it was a gamble, we were leaving good, well paid jobs, raising debt and entering the unknown! But armed with a vision of bringing professional-quality 3D printing to the masses.
I often say I have a sort of ‘irrational optimism’ which sees far beyond any problems and to the end goal. As a founder, this is a key ingredient.
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