Kelly’s Consello tipped for recruitment drive

Consello, established by Mr Kelly after his exit from Teneo, a global advisory business he previously founded, has acquired two companies – The Lanyon Group based in Belfast and Blue Lake High Performance Partners in the mid-west – and has opened a Dublin office.

The Lanyon Group's Katie Doran, a highly regarded figure in the public relations industry, will lead the Irish business on both sides of the Border as CEO.

The business will launch with a team of close to 30 including from the two firms acquired and a roster of top level advisers.

Former Google and LinkedIn EMEA head John Herlihy has joined as executive chairman and the business, which will specialise in providing advise across disciplines to senior leaders, has signed up a roster of experienced business figures who will act as senior advisers including former Smurfit Kappa chair Irial Finan; the managing partner of VC firm Atlantic Partners, Elaine Coughlan; former Ires Reit CEO Margaret Sweeney; Barry O'Sullivan, who previously headed Johnson & Johnson's Visioncare business; and Nick Mullen, founder and managing partner of Dynamiq Ventures and best known for his background in high level sports marketing.

Former Manchester United and England captain Gary Neville and former Irish Ryder Cup captain Paul McGinley are named as principals in the Irish business.

The sports theme continues with Declan Kelly reuniting with long-time friend, business associate and two-time All-Ireland winning Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy, a co-founders of BlueLake alongside former Irish Independent journalist Eugene Hogan, and Jane Mitchell, who previously worked with Mr Kelly at Teneo.

Mr Kelly's previous business, New York-based Teneo, was the sponsor of the Tipperary senior hurling team when he was CEO and the firm retains a substantial Irish business led by Mick O'Keefe.

Meanwhile, Consello has hired corporate headhunter Stafford Bagot, who until recently was the managing director for Ireland of recruiting firm Heidrick & Struggles, Teneo veterans Brendan Murphy and Kevin Roland, as well as David Geraghty, who previously worked in senior roles at Google and Meta.

It is understood that team will be bolstered with further recruitment of experienced professionals to create a relatively top-heavy advisory business.

Mr Kelly said the move to set up in Ireland was a logical one given Consello represents many of the world's leading companies with bases or European headquarters here.

He said: "This launch reflects our continued investment in strategic markets across the world. With the acquisitions of The Lanyon Group and Blue Lake, the leadership of John Herlihy, and the senior team we have assembled, Consello is uniquely positioned to provide unparalleled advisory services across Ireland, the UK and into Europe.

This includes C-suite advisory, management consulting, recruiting and leadership development, communications and public affairs, sports and entertainment advisory, creative services and technology advisory.