WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a major executive shakeup within the communications industry, corporate advisory firm Penta Group has appointed Jim O’Leary as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO). He steps into the role following his departure from public relations giant Weber Shandwick.
O’Leary is slated to officially take the helm this summer. Penta’s co-founder and current CEO, Matt McDonald, will transition to a seat on the firm’s board while working closely with O’Leary during the leadership handover.
Key Highlights of the Executive Move:
-
Industry Track Record: O’Leary brings over two decades of high-level advisory experience. He joined Weber Shandwick in 2023, where he held the dual roles of North America CEO and Global President.
-
The Vision: Announcing his new role on LinkedIn, O’Leary noted that a next-generation corporate advisory firm looks fundamentally different from legacy models, stating: “If you were to draw a next generation advisory firm from a clean sheet for what’s coming, it would look exactly like Penta.”
-
Growth Underpinned by Tech: The appointment follows a major investment by Shamrock Capital in August 2025 aimed at scaling Penta’s model, which integrates senior stakeholder advisory with its proprietary, real-time agentic AI platform and predictive analytics.
Prior to his tenure at Weber Shandwick, O’Leary spent more than 15 years at Edelman, where he served as U.S. Chief Operating Officer and Global Corporate Affairs Chair. He has also held corporate positions at Honeywell and Burson-Marsteller.
