Irresistible PR force: Declan Kelly profile

Love him or loathe him, Kelly has been one of the most successful business people to come out of Ireland

Factfile

Name: Declan Kelly

Age:50

Appearance: A ringer for his brother Labour TD Alan Kelly, but with a more expensive suit and haircut

Newsworthiness: His global PR advisory firm Teneo sold a majority stake that values it at over $700 million

A hallmark characteristic of many veteran PR types is a rather oleaginous charm, but whatever else Declan Kelly might be accused of, it is seldom smarminess.

“It’s the classic Marmite effect,” says ...