Virgin Media O2 announces the appointment of Kate Dohaney as giffgaff CEO

Virgin Media O2 today announces Kate Dohaney as the new Chief Executive of giffgaff, taking over from Ash Schofield in early December 2025. 

In her early career, Kate held senior leadership roles at News Corp and Dow Jones, before becoming CEO of Orb Group in March 2024, where throughout her tenure she led the modernisation of a global technology platform, securing multi-million-dollar investment and driving triple-digit growth in shareholder value.  

Kate’s breadth of experience has seen her career span technology, media, and global business operations, while gaining her a proven track record in developing high-impact teams and businesses.  

Speaking about the appointment, Lutz Schüler, CEO of Virgin Media O2 said: “Kate is a proven leader with a wealth of experience, and I look forward to welcoming her as CEO of giffgaff. She joins at a truly exciting time for the company following its recent expansion into the broadband market and I am confident she will lead the organisation with the heart and tenacity the brand was built on.”  

New CEO of giffgaff, Kate Dohaney, said: “Being appointed to lead such a dynamic and bold organisation within the UK telecoms sector is a real privilege. giffgaff is known for doing things differently – something I passionately believe in – and I’m excited to get started, driving the next chapter of growth for the business.”  

Kate joins giffgaff following its recent expansion into broadband, offering full fibre fixed services – powered by the latest fibre technology – in locations across North West England, Yorkshire and the Humber, East Midlands, the North East, Scotland, South West England, Wales and West Midlands, with future plans to leverage Virgin Media O2’s award-winning broadband network for a combined national scale offering.