Fenton Fitzwilliam, an Irish-headquartered public affairs and strategic communications consultancy, has appointed Nuala Ryan and Paddy O'Dea as Directors, effective August 4, 2026. The promotions strengthen the firm's senior leadership in Dublin as it pursues its ambition to become one of Ireland's leading integrated strategic communications and public affairs consultancies. The appointments mark another significant milestone in Fenton Fitzwilliam's continued expansion, less than a year after the firm's launch.
David O'Donnell, Managing Director of Fenton Fitzwilliam, welcomed both executives. Nuala Ryan noted that Fenton Fitzwilliam shares the same ethos as she and O'Dea do, describing their arrival as a pivotal point in the firm's growth. Ryan and O'Dea join from FINN Partners Ireland (formerly 360), where they served as Senior Partners and founding members of the agency's leadership team. No external search firm was involved in the recruitment. The moves follow Fenton Fitzwilliam's earlier expansion with appointments in the UK market, including Natalie Buxton as UK Managing Director and Gary Follis as Senior Adviser.
O'Dea brings extensive experience advising major Irish and international organisations across sectors including technology, financial services, transport, aviation, food and beverage, and healthcare. His expertise spans corporate communications, reputation and issues management, crisis communications, strategic counsel, and business leadership. He has published articles in the Business Post, Irish Independent, and other national publications on strategic communications and reputation management, and previously worked at corporate PR agencies Fleishman Hillard. Ryan brings exceptional strategic insight and a proven ability to navigate complex reputational communications and stakeholder challenges. Before their departure from FINN Partners Ireland, both executives played crucial roles in winning international briefs for tier one clients including IDA Ireland, Tourism Ireland, and Enterprise Ireland.
Fenton Fitzwilliam was founded in 2025 by Moray Macdonald (CEO), David O'Donnell, Emer Sugrue, and Lorna Fitzpatrick, with teams based in Dublin and Brussels. The firm joined the Paritee network, a global coalition of independent advisory-led communications agencies, in September 2025. Paritee's other member agencies include Brands2Life (UK and US), Geelmuyden Kiese (Denmark, Norway, and Sweden), LHLK Gruppe (Germany), and DVA Creative Technology Studio (Sweden). The consultancy operates within a sector focused on helping organisations navigate complex political, media, and policy landscapes to influence outcomes and shape policy across Ireland and Europe.
The appointment of Ryan and O'Dea represents a deliberate expansion of Fenton Fitzwilliam's capacity in Dublin at a time when the advisory communications sector faces growing demand from organisations navigating rapid political change. The executives' track record in advising multinational corporations and government agencies suggests the firm is positioning itself to compete for larger, more complex mandates. Their prior roles as Senior Partners at a larger global firm (FINN Partners) indicate Fenton Fitzwilliam's capacity to attract experienced talent from established competitors, potentially signalling a growing appetite among Irish communications professionals to join smaller, locally-led operations focused on strategic advisory rather than traditional PR services.
