Teneo: Global CEO Advisory Firm Founded 2011, CVC-Backed

Teneo is a New York global CEO advisory firm founded in June 2011 by Declan Kelly, Doug Band and Paul Keary, and led by CEO Paul Keary. CVC Capital Partners has been majority owner since 2019, and LGT Capital Partners took a minority stake in August 2025 at a reported $2.3 billion valuation, with management also holding equity. Wikipedia lists more than 1,600 employees across about 40 offices as of 2025. In the past two months Teneo has hired restructuring communications leader Amy Edgy from Kekst CNC and has seen managing director Melissa Mackreath move to Edelman.

Originally published June 2015. Updated November 3, 2026.

Who founded Teneo?

Declan Kelly, Doug Band and Paul Keary founded Teneo in New York in June 2011, according to Wikipedia. It says Kelly became chairman and CEO, Band president and Keary chief operating officer. Kelly is a former U.S. economic envoy to Northern Ireland and Band was a longtime aide to President Bill Clinton, per altss.

Who owns Teneo?

CVC Capital Partners owns a majority of Teneo, having first bought in 2019 at a valuation above $700 million and taken over BC Partners' interest, per PE Insights. Wikipedia says BC Partners made a minority investment in December 2014. In August 2025 LGT Capital Partners acquired a minority stake in the double-digit percentage range, valuing the firm at $2.3 billion, according to PE Insights and the Irish Times as summarized by Techleap.

Who leads Teneo?

Paul Keary leads Teneo, and PE Insights says the firm is led by co-founder Keary following the abrupt exits of two original co-founders during the pandemic. altss says Kelly resigned as CEO in June 2021 after an internal investigation into his conduct at a charity event, and that Keary took the role. YesPress lists Kelly and Band as former chairman and CEO and former president.

What does Teneo do?

Teneo provides CEO and board advisory across public relations, financial communications, restructuring and strategic counsel, according to PE Insights. YesPress lists strategy and communications, financial advisory, management consulting, risk advisory and people advisory, and says Teneo named Brian Stephens president of security risk advisory in June 2026 and took a strategic majority investment in the Nordic boutique Clarity Partners in January 2026, opening a Copenhagen office.

Who has Teneo hired and lost recently?

Teneo hired Amy Edgy as a senior managing director and head of restructuring communications on October 2, 2026, according to O'Dwyer's, and lost managing director Melissa Mackreath to Edelman on November 2, 2026. Edgy joins from Kekst CNC and has more than 25 years of experience in distressed debt, insolvency and high-stakes legal and operational matters. She earlier worked as a restructuring lawyer at Linklaters, Jones Day and King & Spalding. Andrea Calise, president of Teneo's U.S. Strategy & Communications business, said the appointment reflects continued investment in an integrated restructuring and special situations practice.

The firm also added three senior managing directors to its European Strategy & Communications business on September 2, 2026, including one who joined from Kekst CNC, where he was managing partner of the Brussels office, per EuroBrussels.

Date reported	Name	Move	Source
September 2, 2026	Three senior managing directors, Europe	Join Strategy & Communications, including the former managing partner of Kekst CNC's Brussels office	EuroBrussels
October 2, 2026	Amy Edgy	Joins as senior managing director and head of restructuring communications, from Kekst CNC	O'Dwyer's
November 2, 2026	Melissa Mackreath	Leaves as managing director for Edelman, where she becomes head of corporate affairs, North America	O'Dwyer's

What acquisitions has Teneo made?

Wikipedia says Teneo acquired the Australian communications consultancy Quay Advisers in March 2019, and the Techleap summary of the Irish Times reports acquisitions of UK PR groups and Deloitte's British restructuring business. YesPress adds that Teneo more than tripled headcount to over 800 and completed nine acquisitions during BC Partners' ownership period ending in 2019. EPR's PR agency M&A tracker follows deals across the sector.

How does Teneo compare with other advisory and communications firms?

Teneo sells integrated CEO advice rather than PR alone, so compare it with Brunswick Group, FGS Global, Joele Frank, Kekst CNC and Sard Verbinnen & Co. EPR's full archive on the firm is at everything-pr.com/tag/teneo.

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