Irish entrepreneur Declan Kelly has landed one of the UK's leading sports figures for his global advisory and leadership development firm after netting Manchester United legend Gary Neville.
The former United captain and eight-time Premier League winner will take a pivotal role in Kelly’s Consello Strive business, which he launched in the US in January.
There he announced his partners would include seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady and 23-time Grand Slam champion Serena Williams, along with his team of leading business experts.
Neville will become chairman of Consello Strive in the UK, overseeing the company’s efforts to expand the Strive business in the UK marketplace, building on its existing financial advisory business and other services which the company has offered there since establishing its offices and presence in London last year.
Consello Strive serves as an advisory, investing, IP & content management and leadership development platform to support businesses commercializing and operating in sports, media and entertainment, including corporations, leagues, teams and prominent individuals.
In addition to Tom Brady, Serena Williams and now Gary Neville, other partners on the considerable Consello Strive line-up are two-time NBA champion and NBA Basketball Hall of Famer Pau Gasol; former President and CEO of WW International and Consello Partner Mindy Grossman; Uber co-founder and Consello Partner Oscar Salazar.
"Gary is a born leader, world class athlete and successful entrepreneur who takes a self-described relentless approach to all of his professional and personal pursuits," said chairman and CEO of Consello and Co Tipperary native, Declan Kelly.
"We are thrilled to have him join our team and to help us further build out our presence in the UK in the months and years ahead."
"We will also be working directly with Gary to expand his business interests in the U.S. and other regions, further building on the very successful career he has developed both inside and outside of football over the last number of years."
"I’m delighted to join Consello and play a prominent role in the Firm’s thriving business," Gary Neville said.
"Having worked in professional sports, media and entertainment for more than 30 years, I’ve seen firsthand how this world is evolving through technological innovation, content globalization, and the increasing role of institutional investment."
"Strive has assembled an exceptional team that is uniquely well-positioned to help corporations, leagues, teams and brands navigate these dynamic industries and reach their full potential."
It is not yet known if the appointment of Neville to chair the UK wing of the business, which gives Consello Strive a significant first footprint on this side of the Atlantic, will precipitate the opening of an Irish offering.
The private equity wing of the parent company, Consello, last year, however, made its first Ireland related move as it took a majority stake in ProSearch Strategies, a leading US based provider of AI and data science enabled legal services with a base in Dublin.
According to Consello Strive, in addition to making co-investments with their partners, Strive’s leaders harness "their industry expertise and best-in- class proprietary networks to advise clients across business development, brand strategy, technology adoption and other areas".
Neville played for Manchester United for 19 seasons, serving as the team’s captain between 2005 and 2011.
He is one of the most decorated players in the history of English football, having made over 600 first team appearances, as well as winning eight English Premier League titles, two UEFA Champion League competitions and three FA Cups.
Capped 85 times by England, Sky Sports football pundit, Neville has built up a successful business away from his football interests, launching businesses across hospitality, real estate development and higher education as part of his Relentless Group.
Consello Partner and CEO of Consello Growth and Business Development, Janey Whiteside said: "As we sought out individuals with the track record and tenacity to scale Strive’s operations, Gary stood out as an ideal representation of our Firm’s vision, values and multi-discipline expertise.
Ms Whiteside said: "He has created a legacy in the world’s most popular sport and successfully transitioned into various other content creation, investing and operating endeavors."
- reporting Gordon Deegan
