THE APEX TIMES
Des Carey, Lucasfilm and Samsung Veteran, Appointed Executive Director at Dublin VFX Firm Elephant Goldfish
Elephant Goldfish, a Dublin-based visual effects and post-production studio, has named industry veteran Des Carey as Executive Director, Strategic Growth and Innovation, citing a plan to expand its strategic development work across its network.
Elephant Goldfish, the Dublin-based visual effects and post-production studio, has appointed Des Carey as Executive Director, Strategic Growth and Innovation, according to an announcement reported by Deadline on July 16, 2026. The hiring adds a senior leadership role focused on expanding the studio’s growth strategy and innovation efforts, while positioning Carey to work from Dublin with colleagues across the company’s broader creative network.
Deadline’s report says Carey will work closely with the Elephant Goldfish team in Dublin and with colleagues across the Molinare Creative Group, of which the studio is a member. Molinare Creative Group includes companies that operate in adjacent production and post-production disciplines, and the appointment is framed as a cross-team leadership role rather than a standalone internal change.
The appointment follows Carey’s prior experience with major entertainment and technology brands, with Deadline describing her background at both Lucasfilm and Samsung. Carey’s move to Elephant Goldfish is presented as a shift into a strategic executive position that emphasizes growth and innovation, aligning with the studio’s efforts to develop new business and expand its capabilities.
In the role, Elephant Goldfish said Carey’s duties will center on strategic growth and innovation, with an emphasis on developing new work. Deadline’s report does not specify particular projects or clients connected to the appointment, but it indicates the scope is intended to support the studio’s longer-term development and operating direction.
Elephant Goldfish’s leadership change also underscores the continued demand for senior executives who can manage relationships and delivery across VFX and post-production pipelines, particularly for studios that operate within a larger creative group. By placing the role at the intersection of strategy and innovation, the studio is indicating that new product development and commercial expansion are priorities for its next phase.
As reported by Deadline, the announcement takes effect immediately in terms of staffing and internal planning, but no start date beyond the appointment announcement is detailed in the available coverage. Carey’s appointment may also affect how Elephant Goldfish coordinates creative and commercial efforts among its Dublin-based team and partners within Molinare Creative Group, depending on how leadership responsibilities are distributed across the group.
Why It Matters
- The appointment places a senior executive in a strategic growth and innovation role as Elephant Goldfish looks to expand its development pipeline.
- By centering work across Molinare Creative Group, the change may influence how Elephant Goldfish coordinates projects and resourcing within its broader network.
- For industry observers, the hiring reflects an ongoing emphasis on leadership that can bridge creative production needs with commercial strategy in VFX and post-production.
- Because the reporting does not name specific incoming projects or clients, the practical impact will likely depend on how Carey’s mandate translates into new business development after the appointment date.
Key Facts
- Elephant Goldfish, a Dublin-based VFX and post-production studio, appointed Des Carey as Executive Director, Strategic Growth and Innovation.
- Deadline reported the appointment on July 16, 2026.
- The role is described as focusing on strategic growth and innovation, including developing new work.
- Deadline said Carey will work closely with Elephant Goldfish’s Dublin team.
- Deadline said Carey will also collaborate with colleagues across the Molinare Creative Group, of which Elephant Goldfish is a member.
- Deadline described Carey as a veteran from Lucasfilm and Samsung prior to joining Elephant Goldfish.