Drury announces Cathal Barry as Chief Executive
Cathal has led Drury’s Financial Communications division as Managing Director since 2022 and earlier this year was appointed to the Drury Board, joining Executive Directors and co-owners, Anne-Marie Curran, Paddy Hughes and Sinead Birt. Drury’s co-founder, Billy Murphy continues in his role as Lead Advisor to many of Drury’s key clients.
Cathal specialises in capital markets and transaction communications, helping clients to articulate their business’ strategy, growth ambitions and financial strength. He works closely with a range of public companies listed on stock exchanges in Dublin, London and New York advising on how to optimally communicate around financial calendar reporting, corporate development activity and shareholder activism. Under his leadership, Drury advised on more transactions in 2025 than any other Irish strategic communications consultancy, as verified by Mergermarket.
Cathal also plays a leading role in corporate storytelling as well as crisis management for several private and family-owned businesses of scale spanning a variety of sectors and has been involved as an advisor on some of the most high-profile Irish business stories in recent years. He featured in Business Plus magazine’s “40 Under 40” list for the PR sector in 2024 and was named on the Young Communications Professional of the Year shortlist by the PRII and PRCA in 2019. He holds Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts degrees, a Diploma in Advertising, Marketing, Sales and PR, and a Diploma in Capital Markets and Investments.
Anne-Marie Curran has led Drury for over 16 years, during which time she led the management buy-out of the business from Omnicom Group in 2020, returning Drury to independent ownership. Under her leadership, Drury has grown and built its offering across corporate communications and reputation management, financial communications, and public affairs and regulatory affairs, refreshed its brand and established an associate partnership with FGS Global.
Commenting, Anne-Marie Curran said: “Leading Drury has been the privilege of my career, and I am proud of the business, the team and the client relationships we have built together. Cathal is an outstanding advisor and respected leader who has played a central role in our growth, and the strength of our team means we can, once again, appoint from within. As Executive Chair, I look forward to working closely with our clients, and supporting Cathal and the team as Drury enters its next chapter.”
Cathal Barry said: “I am honoured to lead Drury, a business I have been proud to be part of for more than a decade. Together the Drury team has built a firm with an exceptional reputation. The communications sector is changing faster than at any time in Drury’s history, and our clients need counsel that is sharp, independent and grounded in real experience. I look forward to working with our team to build on that foundation and lead Drury into its next phase of growth.”
Drury’s clients include CRH plc, Cairn Homes, Doyle Collection, ESB Group, Flutter Entertainment plc, FBD Group plc, Fexco, Gowan Group, I-RES REIT, Irish Life, Meta, MML, Musgrave Group, the Road Safety Authority, Ryanair and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland.
