Declan Kelly (businessman) facts for kids

Declan Kelly (born 1968) is an Irish-American business leader, entrepreneur, and someone who gives back to the community. He is the founder, Chairman, and CEO of The Consello Group, a company that helps with investing and financial services. Kelly is also well-known for starting and leading Teneo, a big international consulting company based in New York City.

Declan Kelly's Journey

Declan Kelly began his career in the 1980s and 1990s as a journalist in Ireland. He wrote for local newspapers like The Nenagh Guardian and the Tipperary Star. In 1994, he won an award for being the AT Cross Business Journalist of The Year.

From Journalism to Business

After working as a journalist, Kelly moved into management roles for Irish communication companies. In 1999, he started his own business called Gallagher and Kelly Public Relations. He later sold this company and moved to the United States in 2001.

In the US, he advised large companies such as General Electric, Coca-Cola, and Dell. His company, Financial Dynamics (FD), was later sold to FTI Consulting. Kelly then became a top executive at FTI, helping to bring different parts of the company together.

Helping Northern Ireland

In 2007 and 2008, Kelly was a key advisor to Hillary Clinton during her presidential campaign. In 2009, she appointed him as the US Economic Envoy to Northern Ireland. This meant he helped bring jobs and investment to the region.

During his two years in this role, he worked with groups like Invest NI and organized the US-Northern Ireland Investment Conference. He was praised by politicians for helping to create many jobs in Northern Ireland. He stepped down from this role in May 2011, having helped create hundreds of jobs.

Founding Teneo

In June 2011, Declan Kelly co-founded Teneo Holdings in New York. He became the chairman and co-CEO of this new company. Teneo quickly grew into a major global consulting firm, advising many of the world's largest companies.

By 2012, Teneo had many employees and important clients. Former leaders like Tony Blair and Bill Clinton were part of Teneo's advisory board. Kelly stepped down from his role as CEO of Teneo in June 2021.

Starting Consello

In February 2022, Kelly started a new company called Consello. This company focuses on investing, banking, and helping businesses grow and merge with others. In May 2025, Kelly also became a part-owner of the English football club Salford City.

Early Life and Education

Declan Kelly was born in 1968 in Portroe, a village in Tipperary, Ireland. His parents, Nan and Tom Kelly, made sacrifices to ensure Declan and his brother, Alan, received good educations. Alan later became a government minister in Ireland.

At 16, Kelly started working for free as a young reporter for The Nenagh Guardian. At the same time, he attended Nenagh CBS. He also played hurling, a traditional Irish sport, for his school team. From 1986 to 1989, he studied at the National University of Ireland in Galway, where he earned a degree in English and law.

Giving Back to the Community

Declan Kelly is involved with many non-profit groups and community organizations. He often helps with Irish and Irish-American causes.

He has served on the advisory board of New York University's Glucksman Ireland House. He also helped raise money for the Clinton Foundation and the American Ireland Funds. Since 2013, he has been on the board of the Sesame Workshop, which creates educational programs like Sesame Street.

Kelly also founded the Northern Ireland Mentorship Program. This program helps young university graduates from Northern Ireland work at top companies in the United States. The goal is to help them gain skills and experience for their careers. In April 2020, he was an executive producer for Together at Home, an online concert that raised money to help with the COVID-19 pandemic. He was later removed from the board of Global Citizen.

Awards and Recognition

Declan Kelly has received many awards for his work in journalism, business, and charity.

• In 1994, he was named the AT Cross Business Journalist of The Year.
• In 2005, he was listed among the "top one hundred Irish American businessmen in the US" by Irish America magazine.
• The National University of Ireland, Galway gave him their Alumni Award for Business and Commerce in 2005.
• In 2008, the American Irish Historical Society gave him their gold medal. He was the youngest person ever to receive this award, given to someone who has made a special contribution to Irish American society.
• Queen's University Belfast gave him an honorary doctorate in 2011 for his service to Northern Ireland's community and economy.
• In July 2012, he received the Ellis Island Medal of Honor.

Personal Life

Declan Kelly is a citizen of both Ireland and the United States. He lives in both Portroe, Ireland, and New York City with his wife, Julia, and their family.

See also

• List of entrepreneurs
• List of NUI Galway people