- New Dublin and Brussels agency promises action and impact in a fast-changing policy landscape -

In an era of rapid political change, businesses and organisations face a stark challenge: be understood or be ignored. Today (24.09.25), a new agency launches to meet that challenge. Fenton Fitzwilliam, a locally owned public affairs and communications consultancy, opens its doors with a clear promise: “Our clients won’t just be heard, they’ll be understood.”

Headquartered in Dublin with a team also in Brussels, the founders bring together a deep expertise from across the political, media and policy landscape. The vision for establishing Fenton Fitzwilliam is to turn advice into action – helping organisations cut through complexity, shape policy and deliver results that matter.

Fenton Fitzwilliam is part of the Paritee network, a coalition of top-tier, advisory-led agencies from around the world. Other agencies in the network include Brands2Life (UK / US), Geelmuyden Kiese (Denmark, Norway and Sweden), LHLK Gruppe (Germany) and DVA Creative Technology Studio (Sweden).

Moray Macdonald, CEO of Fenton Fitzwilliam said: “From the outset, our goal was to build an agency of doers. For people driven to deliver results and create lasting impact for the organisations we work with. Strategy is key to what we offer, but it’s only the starting point. What matters is turning that advice into action and delivering tangible outcomes that shift debates, change decisions and move the dial.

“We’re launching at a time of rapid political change across Ireland, Europe and beyond. We don’t see this as a challenge to be managed but as an opportunity to be seized. In an era when businesses and representative organisations must be proactively engaged to be fully understood, our teams in Dublin and Brussels are ready to help clients cut through the noise, build coalitions and get things done. Less theory, more delivery.”

Moray will combine his role as CEO of Fenton Fitzwilliam with his position as Head of Public Affairs at Brands2Life in London, working to connect teams across Ireland, the UK and Brussels to deliver seamless advice and advocacy. Meanwhile, Jonas Palmqvist, CEO of Paritee, will take on the role of Chair at Fenton Fitzwilliam.

Launching with a team of nine across Dublin and Brussels, the founding directors of Fenton Fitzwilliam are:

• Moray Macdonald, CEO – Formerly Managing Director at Weber Shandwick and Instinctif Partners, with a track record across energy, infrastructure, and political engagement. 
• David O’Donnell, Managing Director – Expert in developing tailored media, stakeholder engagement and crisis communications strategy for public, private and NGO clients.
• Emer Sugrue, Director – Former journalist with The Irish Times and Green Party communications officer, specialising in complex policy messaging.
• Lorna Fitzpatrick, Director – Former USI President and Labour Party member, with expertise in advocacy, PR and corporate communications.

David O’Donnell, Managing Director of Fenton Fitzwilliam said: “Public affairs and communications are ultimately about people and understanding their needs, the challenges they face and the decisions that affect them most. Our job is to decode complex messaging and break it down into plain English, supported by evidence, research, and expert insight. If you can’t explain an issue clearly, you can’t expect policymakers or the public to back you.

“We never stop asking how, why and what if, because curious thinking drives better solutions. We’re ambitious about growth and we’re focused on the sectors where the stakes are highest and regulation is moving fastest. Energy, tech, pharma, healthcare, transport and sustainability are all sectors facing fast change and this is where our expertise lies. As a locally owned Irish agency with a footprint in Brussels and strong European, UK and US links through the Paritee network, we’re excited about the opportunities ahead. We’re very keen to work with like-minded people and organisations that want to influence, engage and achieve real impact, while delivering positive societal change.”