Eileen Beirne – Executive Assistant at MediaCity

Meet Eileen Beirne, who’s joined Peel Media as the Office Manager and Executive Assistant to the Managing Director of MediaCity, Stephen Wild. 

After a number of years travelling the world and having her wings momentarily clipped by the global pandemic, Eileen’s landed firmly back in Salford to pursue a career in the heart of MediaCity.

“I spent four years working as a PA for Deloitte in Manchester before heading to Deloitte in Melbourne and Darwen, Australia. I really wanted to have the ‘traveller’ experience before returning to the UK, so I ended up doing a 90-day stint packing oranges in Adelaide before travelling to Bali with other traveller friends I met. 

“By the time I’d returned, I still hadn’t shaken a sense of wanderlust so I applied for Emirates cabin crew and was amazed to be accepted. For the next two years I was based in Dubai and flew all over the world, visiting and experiencing wonderful places such as Moscow, Bangladesh, and New York.”

Then the pandemic hit. With airspace closing down and planes grounded Eileen found herself living alone in an apartment block in Dubai.

“The first few months of lockdown were bleak as the rules in Dubai were very strict. I was literally locked in my apartment with no balcony for the first three months. I stuck it out but by August I’d been made redundant. I was heartbroken,” she says. 

After returning to the UK, Eileen worked as a PA for a family but really wanted to get back into a business environment.

“The opportunity at Peel Media came just at the right time. I feel my experience to date has prepared me well for the role, which can at times be really demanding. No two days are the same and I love the fact the job is so varied. 

“One minute I can be preparing for a stakeholder visit and the next preparing board papers. It’s important the office runs smoothly and everyone has what they need to do their job properly. There are so many elements, so I’m learning all the time. 

“I’ve travelled the world but I feel my professional journey is just beginning at MediaCity and that really excites me.”