dmg media Ireland has selected 40 brilliant young minds in the PR industry as part of the 40 Under 40 series.

Seán Earley - managing director (digital), Teneo

Seán Earley is a seasoned communications strategist with a passion for storytelling and digital campaigning.

As managing director at Teneo, Earley leverages over a decade of experience to craft compelling campaigns that drive impact across industries.

His expertise spans strategic communications, digital campaigning, and leveraging data-driven insights to navigate complex global challenges.

He co-lead’s Teneo’s global AI working group focusing on how the firm consults with, and on the topic of, AI for clients in the US, Europe and the Middle East.

He regularly contributes to thought pieces on the topic for the likes of the New York Times and BoardAgenda.com.

Earley’s creative campaigning work has earned recognition for creativity including leading his 20-strong team to be named 2023 “Agency of the Year” at the Digital Media Awards.

Beyond his professional achievements, Earley has a keen interest in political and societal trends, reflecting his commitment to shaping conversations that matter.

Based in Donegal, Earley’s contributions extend from corporate boardrooms to voluntary board positions in community initiatives, exemplifying his holistic approach to leadership in communications.

• Hobbies Exploring the rugged beauty of Donegal through sea swimming, kayaking and running. Learning French, and developing on screenplay for a black comedy, set in rural Ireland.
• Best piece of advice you’ve ever received “Don’t let perfect be the enemy of good” from JD, a former colleague.
• Why you love your job Every day brings a new challenge and the chance to make a difference. Love ‘seeing The Matrix,' where the dots connect between technology, culture, and human stories to deliver creative solutions to client's complex issues.
• Motto for life “Well done is better than well said.” – Benjamin Franklin

Nicola Halloran - director, Teneo

Through hard work, pioneering spirit and relentless innovation Nicola Halloran has established a director-level career in communications with a solid reputation for delivering excellent, tangible results for her clients.

Recipient of the Young Communications Professional of the Year award in 2022, Halloran has vast knowledge and experience across the digital space and is responsible for creating immersive digital campaigns which are strategy-driven for her clients.

Halloran is hands-on with the content creation process from end to end, working closely with production and creative teams in order to produce content that is optimised for all channels.

She is obsessed with keeping up to date with emerging features across social channels, AI and emerging tech bringing these insights into the strategies of campaigns she is working on.

Halloran has experience across a wide range of sectors and clients, with standout skills including social strategy & digital comms planning, creative content production, influencer engagement, stakeholder lobbying, and crisis communications. 

• Hobbies Sailing, boxing and cooking
• Best piece of advice you've ever received Have an entrepreneurial spirit, leverage every opportunity to network, always do the best you can do and above all else be kind.
• Why you love your job No two days are ever the same in communications, that’s the secret sauce that has kept here in the industry.
• Motto for life “What got you here, won’t get you there.”

Aisling Newton - associate director, consumer division, Legacy Communications

With over 10 years of industry experience at home and abroad, Newton has cultivated an ability to combine business strategy, insight-led tactics, and rich storytelling to shape and benefit the brands she represents.

Newton’s creativity, leadership, and passion for delivering disruptive campaigns have contributed to Legacy’s ever-expanding consumer client portfolio with leading brands such as ALDI Ireland, Pieta, Molson Coors, One4all, NAOS, and Tony’s Chocoloney.

In her current role as associate director of the consumer division at Legacy Communications, Newton is a strategic lead specialising in FMCG, retail and hospitality, with experience built from years working with renowned brands such as Diageo, Bord Bia and Eason.

Building towards Legacy’s PRCA Agency of the Year win in 2024, Newton directed successful campaigns for Pieta’s Darkness into Light, which picked up the accolade for Best Campaign by a Registered Charity at the 2022 PRCA Awards, and ALDI Ireland’s launch of their cookbook ‘Home’ in collaboration with the IRFU, which was crowned Best Consumer Public Relations Campaign 2022.

Newton holds a Master’s degree in Journalism and Media from Griffith College Dublin and an undergraduate degree in International Arts from Maynooth University.

• Hobbies All sports, reading, listening to podcasts and travelling.
• Best piece of advice you’ve ever received Listen first, speak second.
• Why you love your job Because she gets to work with creatively brave and smart people every day, pushing the boundaries to make communication fun and engaging!
• Motto for life Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.