Goalhanger Appoints Three New Senior Hires

Goalhanger has appointed Andy Hodgson as chief financial officer, Chloe Straw as director of operations and Emily Kent Smith as editorial director.

“Goalhanger is entering a new era—bigger audiences, bigger ambitions and the systems to support them,” said co-founders Tony Pastor and Jack Davenport. “Andy, Chloe and Emily bring exactly what we need: industry leadership, creative instinct and a proven ability to build organizations 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, Straw and Kent Smith will report to Pastor and Davenport.

Hodgson has held senior leadership roles across the U.K., U.S. and Europe, and most recently served as CFO to a number of leading U.K. scale-ups such as Uber.

Straw joins Goalhanger following a tenure as CEO of AudioUK, where she played a role in securing the industry’s first seat on the Creative Industries Council, launching the AudioTrain platform and strengthening international collaboration through the International Podcast Alliance.

Finally, Kent Smith is an experienced journalist and 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.

“I’m thrilled to be joining Goalhanger at such a pivotal moment in its growth,” said Hodgson. “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.”

“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,” said Straw. “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.”

“Goalhanger is changing the world of journalism and entertainment, with millions already engaging with ‘The Rest Is…’ across audio, video and live events,” said Kent Smith. “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.”