Goalhanger appoints CFO, operations director and editorial director

Goalhanger has appointed a trio of senior hires as it enters the next phase of its development.

Andy Hodgson (pictured above left) joins as chief financial officer. He will lead the company’s overall financial strategy and long-term growth.

Hodgson is a finance executive with a track record of building global tech businesses. He has held senior leadership roles across the UK, US and Europe, and most recently served as CFO to a number of UK scale-ups.

He spent five years at Uber, overseeing regional financial strategy and operations as it scaled from early-stage disruptor to IPO. He is a PwC-trained chartered accountant (FCA) and holds an MBA from London Business School.

Chloe Straw (pictured above middle) has been appointed director of operations. She will lead the teams, systems and operational strategy as Goalhanger looks to deliver its “most ambitious expansion plans to date”.

She joins from AudioUK where she was CEO. During this time, she played a role in securing the industry’s first seat on the Creative Industries Council, launching the AudioTrain platform, expanding national partnerships, and strengthening international collaboration through the International Podcast Alliance.

Prior to this, she served as head of content & production at We Are Grape. She began her career at Somethin’ Else, producing audio and digital content for major broadcasters and brands.

Emily Kent Smith (pictured above right) joins as editorial director. She will oversee the written content strategy across all shows, including newsletters and long-form content.

Smith is an experienced journalist and editorial leader with a track record across national newsrooms and digital strategy. She was previously associate editor at The Sunday Times, where she helped shape the weekly edition while also leading on digital strategy and new business opportunities. Before that, she served as deputy news editor and as a reporter.

Prior to joining The Sunday Times, she spent several years at The Daily Mail, first as a UK reporter, then as a US correspondent based in San Francisco covering the technology sector and the west coast, and later as a news editor.

All three hires begin with immediate effect and report to co-founders Tony Pastor and Jack Davenport.

They will work closely with the board and senior leadership team to strengthen the company’s financial, operational and editorial capabilities and support its long-term strategic ambitions.

The Goalhanger network delivers over 70 million monthly full-episode streams across a slate of hit shows, including The Rest Is History, The Rest Is Politics, Empire, The Rest Is Entertainment, Sherlock & Co., We Have Ways of Making You Talk, The Rest Is Science, and others.

Co-Founders Pastor and Davenport said: “Goalhanger is entering a new era – bigger audiences, bigger ambitions, and the systems to support them. Andy, Chloe and Emily bring exactly what we need: industry leadership, creative instinct and a proven ability to build organisations that scale without losing their soul. As we continue to grow as the home of engaging conversation, these roles will be central to shaping our editorial vision, our people and the performance that underpins it.”

Hodgson said: “I’m thrilled to be joining Goalhanger at such a pivotal moment in its growth. It’s a rare business that combines creative excellence with genuine commercial ambition, and does so on its own terms. The scale of what the team has already built is hugely impressive, and I’m excited to help put the financial foundations in place that will support the next phase of growth.”

Straw added: “Since first encountering Goalhanger a couple of years ago, it’s always felt like a unicorn – a media company that plays by its own rules. Curious, creative and relentlessly innovative, it continues to push boundaries and find new ways to connect with audiences. I’m excited to work with this brilliant team, bringing my experience guiding businesses through periods of growth and change to help shape Goalhanger’s next chapter.”

Kent Smith said: “Goalhanger is changing the world of journalism and entertainment, with millions already engaging with ‘The Rest Is…’ across audio, video and live events. Expanding the brand into written formats - giving fans more ways to spend time with the shows they love while reaching new audiences - feels like the natural next step. I can’t wait to start working with this brilliant team.”