Des Carey, Lucasfilm and Samsung Veteran, Appointed Executive Director at Dublin VFX Firm Elephant Goldfish

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.