Ex-FÁS chairman joins public relations firm

BRIAN Geoghegan has resurfaced - after recently retiring as director of economic affairs at IBEC and chairman of FÁS - as the chairman of Dublin-based public relations firm MRPA Kinman Communications.

The firm is the third-largest player in the Irish market and counts the likes of the Campbell Bewley Group, Xilinx, IBI Corporate Finance, Irish Life & Permanent, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals and Bank of Ireland as clients. It was formed last year through the merger of Dublin firms MRPA Consultants and Kinman Public Relations.

While at IBEC, Mr Geoghegan played a key role in representing Irish business with policy makers both here and overseas.

He was also a central figure in the negotiation of successive National Partnership agreements and was one of the architects of the policy changes critical to Ireland’s recent economic transformation.

Of his appointment, Mr Geoghegan said: “Communication skills are increasingly critical to success in modern business and high quality public relations professionals are becoming as important to Irish businesses as lawyers and accountants have traditionally been.

“MRPA Kinman Communications plays a leading role in the industry in Ireland and I’m delighted to be joining them to help them prepare for further growth and development.”

MRPA Kinman’s managing director Ray Gordon said: “Our focus is fixed firmly on the corporate market so we’re delighted that Brian, with his vast knowledge of Irish business, has agreed to join us as chairman. We’re determined to be at the forefront of this industry for many years to come and we believe that Brian will help us to ensure that we achieve that ambition.”