Synapse Announces Appointment of Mark Gallagher to Board and Lloyd Embley to Executive Team
Synapse News
Synapse – the only stories marketplace for PRs and journalists – today announced two major appointments to its leadership team as it accelerates its growth across the UK media and communications landscape.
Mark Gallagher, founder of the strategic communications agencies Riverside Advisory and Pagefield joins the Synapse board in July. One of the UK’s leading communicators, campaigners and political lobbyists, Gallagher brings a wealth of experience and an unparalleled network of relationships across journalism, public affairs, and strategic communications. He sold Pagefield to DC based PPHC in June 2024 and remains a Senior Adviser at the agency. A former Director of Public Affairs at ITN and ITV plc, his appointment signals a significant step in Synapse’s mission to deliver cutting-edge technology directly into the hands of journalists and PR professionals across the UK.
“Synapse is a deeply impressive company, with a great product, ever deepening partnerships, and a stellar board and executive team. I didn’t hesitate to join them.”
“We’re excited to welcome Mark to the board,” said Charles Russell, CEO of Synapse. “Mark’s insight and influence within the media space will be invaluable as we continue building the most innovative solutions for both PRs and journalists.”
Mark joins an elite group of industry leaders on Synapse’s Board, including PR legend Mark Borkowski and its chair, advertising and media leader Rupert Howell. Dowgate Capital continues to advise on fundraising and corporate strategy.
In addition, Lloyd Embley, existing shareholder and board member, will be joining the Synapse management team as Executive Director. Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Reach plc, Lloyd will bring his extensive newsroom leadership and editorial expertise to the forefront of Synapse’s product development and strategic direction, with a particular focus on enhancing the platform for journalists and media organisations.
“Lloyd’s transition from board member to executive reflects our shared belief in the transformative potential of Synapse,” added Russell. “His deep understanding of newsroom workflows and editorial challenges will play a critical role in shaping tools that truly meet the needs of the industry.”
These appointments strengthen Synapse’s commitment to solving decades-old problems for modern media professionals through smart, collaborative SaaS technology. With a growing user base and strong platform adoption among UK journalists and PRs, Synapse is poised to become the go-to platform for story collaboration in a digital-first world.
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We launched on 21st September 2023 with over 1800 users already pre-registered. Since then we’ve grown to over 3000 users, onboarded national publications and have more news to come. Watch this space!
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