Consello, the global advisory company founded by Irish businessman Declan Kelly, has appointed former leader of the Senate and Fianna Fáil TD Lisa Chambers to head up its Public Affairs wing.
The former Mayo TD will land in familiar territory with the company’s head office on Kildare Street, just metres away from Leinster House where spent the past decade across the Seanad and Dáil.
Lisa Chambers joins the company on a full-time basis just three months after it unveiled a 30-strong team following the acquisition of two companies, Belfast and Dublin-based communications and public affairs company Lanyon Group and Mid-West based leadership development company Blue Lake.
Chambers failed to secure a seat for Fianna Fáil in the Mayo constituency in the General Election last November and last month, Chambers confirmed that she was leaving public life after an 11-year involvement, firstly as a county councillor, then as a TD for five years before serving in the Senate.
“However, I am not at this stage completely ruling out a return at some point in the future. But, for now, I am planning to take a new direction in my life,” she said at the time.
A barrister by profession, Chambers joins a senior team that includes Executive Chair and former Google and LinkedIn Head of EMEA John Herlihy and former All-Ireland winning manager, RTÉ GAA pundit and head of the company’s Leadership Development team Liam Sheedy.
Declan Kelly has also assembled a senior advisors’ team that includes Chairman of Smurfit Westrock Irial Finan, co-founder of Atlantic Bridge Elaine Coughlan, former Vice President at Johnson & Johnson Barry O’Sullivan and Munster and Ireland rugby legend Ronan O’Gara.
Ms Chambers will bring her experience from her role as Leader of the Senate as well as the party spokesperson there on Defence, Brexit, Foreign and European Affairs and Chair of its Brexit Committee.
She will join the Communications and Public Affairs team at Consello in Ireland, one of six business units in the newly established company here.
“The past decade or so in politics has given me invaluable experience that I am very grateful for. I have now embarked on a new chapter in my life and joining Consello was an easy decision for me,” she said today.
“What Declan Kelly has built globally with Consello, and in such a short space of time, is remarkable. Declan has now brought that global standard to Ireland by assembling a team of business leaders with an incredible track record of success themselves. I am excited to be part of such an experienced team,” she said.
“As we grow the Consello business in Ireland, we are continuing to build out a team of experts in their field that can enable our clients to navigate challenges and maximise opportunities as they arise,” the CEO of Consello in Ireland, Katie Doran, said.
“Lisa is a superb addition to the team, further enhancing our Communications and Public Affairs offering through her unique insights and experience in Irish government and European affairs,” she added.
Reporting by Gordon Deegan
