Declan Kelly’s Teneo departure won't affect Tipperary GAA cashflow this year

Teneo's sponsorship contract with Tipperary GAA, which is estimated to be worth up to €200,000 per annum, elapses at the end of this season

Tipperary manager Liam Sheedy and sponsor Declan Kelly, then CEO of Teneo, celebrate following the 2019 All-Ireland SHC final victory at Croke Park. Photo by Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

DECLAN KELLY has stepped down as chairman and chief executive of global advisory firm Teneo, sponsors of Tipperary’s Gaelic football and hurling teams.

In what will come as a blow to his friend, club-mate, and work colleague senior hurling manager Liam Sheedy, as well as Tipperary GAA, the Portroe man has removed himself from the role following an incident at a fundraising concert last month.

Kelly’s departure from Teneo will have no material influence on cash flow for Tipp GAA in 2021 - it is understood the payment for this year has already been made - but it probably casts doubt over its continuation beyond 2021. Brother of Labour Party leader Alan, Kelly is a huge Tipp GAA supporter and when the 53-year-old isn’t providing counsel to several Fortune 500 chief executives, he will be engrossing himself in the fortunes of his native county.

In the wake of the controversy, Kelly last week stepped down from his board seat in the Global Citizen anti-poverty campaign group and yesterday announced he was resigning from Teneo, which he co-established this month 10 years ago.

“On May 2, I made an inadvertent, public, and embarrassing mistake for which I took full responsibility and apologised to those directly affected, as well as my colleagues and clients.

“A campaign against the reputation of our firm has followed and may even continue in the coming days. However, regardless of the veracity of any such matters I do not want them to be an ongoing distraction to the running of our company.

“In order to protect the employees of Teneo and its clients, and with my family’s strong support, I have decided to leave the company and resign as chairman and CEO. Teneo will remain the best in the world at what it does, a firm whose success has been driven by three virtues — hard work, decency, and compassion.

“Over recent days I have received countless messages of support from my colleagues, clients, public figures, and people who know me well both personally and professionally. Their support and trust is what counts the most. I will be forever grateful to them all.

“I want to thank our hundreds of clients around the world for their support of our business and their loyalty to our people. You are the reason Teneo exists.” The Teneo deal is worth north of €225,000 a season to Tipperary GAA. In March of this year, hurling boss Liam Sheedy, who was previously Bank of Ireland’s provincial director for Munster, was announced as the vice-chairman of Teneo Ireland. His role incorporates leading the new Irish division of Teneo Performance business.

Two months after it was confirmed Sheedy would be returning to the senior hurling manager role in the Premier County, Teneo were announced as Tipperary GAA’s new sponsors. The partnership paid off immediately as for the second time in eight years Sheedy guided the county to an All-Ireland title, Kelly pictured embracing Sheedy and the players on the field following the final whistle.

In early 2019, the Tipperary County Board announced it was establishing a commercial board, which would be chaired by Kelly and feature the likes of Alan Quinlan and Niall Quinn.

The sponsorship contract is up for renewal at the end of this year and would have rolled on with Kelly at the helm of Teneo..

He’s also been a huge ally to the GPA, and a big help to Dessie Farrell when he was CEO. Kelly has continued to spearhead Stateside funding for the players' body.