Brian Donovan

Background

About Brian Donovan

A leader in digital heritage for over 25 years, beginning with my transition from academia to entrepreneurship when I co-founded Eneclann in 1998. Since then, I’ve accumulated extensive experience in start-ups, business development, joint ventures, and fundraising, consistently delivering results by leveraging partnerships, harnessing staff talent, and seizing opportunities—even in challenging circumstances. At DC Thomson History, I lead strategic growth across our portfolio—including Findmypast, The Social History Archive, and the British Newspaper Archive—and identify new opportunities in the global heritage space. My recent focus includes- Expanding asset value and revenue streams into adjacent markets - Launching our academic access platform, The Social History Archive - Forging partnerships that support long-term, sustainable growth Previously, I led B2B operations at Findmypast and before that licensing, releasing- 160+ million Irish, British, and American records - 2 million+ pages of historical Irish newspapers - The landmark Catholic Heritage Archive, making records from Catholic churches in Ireland, Britain, and the US accessible online With a PhD in History and recognition through multiple business development awards, I bring both scholarly rigour and commercial insight to my work. I’m passionate about creating user-focused historical products that drive engagement and revenue. Through strategic partnerships and innovative models, I aim to help the heritage sector thrive in the digital age.