Robert Condon: Account Director

Robert manages strategic national and European political and media communications campaigns for a range of clients at Hume Brophy London. Prior to joining Hume Brophy in 2008, Robert worked at The Communication Group Plc in London, where he advised clients in UK and EU campaigns across sectors such as UK financial services, health, property investment, media and gambling.

Previously, Robert worked at the European Commission in the unit responsible for relations with the European Investment Bank. He covered corporate operations, policy compliance and financial services for DG Economic and Financial Affairs. Before this, Robert worked at the Weber Shandwick Group in London and as a business analyst at, amongst others, Bain & Co.

He began his career while living in China when he co-founded a magazine, Jinan Global. Robert holds a M.Econ.Sc from University College Dublin and a M.A. in History from Trinity College Dublin, having spent a year on a postgraduate scholarship at Boston College, USA, and a year at the University of Paris-Sorbonne.

Maria Cryan: Senior Account Director

Maria has over eight years experience of government, international relations, public affairs and lobbying, as well as media relations and strategic communications solutions. Her expertise lies primarily in the energy, energy efficiency and green sectors, but she has also managed campaigns for Irish, UK and global brands in the retail, professional services, health, property, telecommunications and financial sectors.

Maria joined Hume Brophy in January 2010 having worked for both Dublin and London-based agencies, prior to which she worked as a public sector consultant on projects for the UK Ministry of Justice and HM Revenue and Customs. Maria also spent two years working in Paris as Irish Attaché to UNESCO and the OECD, and as an Analyst at the OECD in the Environment and Development Directorates.

Maria holds a BA in History and Politics and an MA in European Studies from University College Dublin. She also has a Diploma in International Political and Social Sciences from the Institut d’Etudes Politiques (Sciences Po) in Paris.

Evan DeBarra: Account Director

Evan has seven years of corporate public relations experience and his current portfolio of clients includes hedge fund managers, fund administrators, professional service consultancies and the European Fund and Asset Management Association (EFAMA). He was a part of the Alternative Investment Management Association’s (AIMA) outsourced press office for over two years, starting when the financial crisis first began in 2007. His experience includes successfully launching industry reports in pan-European campaigns, media profile-raising and involvement in crisis communications on industry issues.

He joined Hume Brophy in 2007 from the in-house communications team at law firm CMS Cameron McKenna where he was responsible for external communications for the firm’s Technology, Media & Telecoms, Insurance and Hedge Funds practices.

Before moving in-house, Evan was an account manager at Weber Shandwick Financial where he worked for a range of alternative asset management, financial technology and structured finance clients. He started his PR career at Cohn & Wolfe, a WPP agency, before moving to broadcast PR agency Bulletin International.

Before moving into public relations, he worked in publishing production for Random House, the world’s largest English language publisher. He holds a BA Hons. in History and German from University College Dublin.

Philippe Hamon: Senior Consultant

Philippe Hamon works with HBC as a senior consultant, following a twenty-five year career in the airport industry. Philippe has also worked at Macquarie Bank as a Senior Advisor since 2004 and prior to this, as Director General of the Brussels-based Airports Council International (Europe) and its predecessor organisation for 17 years, where he promoted the interests of some 400 airports in 45 countries.

Prior to this, Philippe served as a Commercial Director of UK airport operator BAA plc. Currently, Philippe is a Director of Brussels Airport as well as Macquarie Airports Copenhagen Holdings ApS and Macquarie Airports Copenhagen ApS.

Philippe is a French citizen – he was born in 1939 and lives near Saint Malo in Brittany. Philippe is also member of the Board of Directors of Copenhagen Airports A/S since January 2006.

James Harvey: Account Manager

James joined Hume Brophy in July 2007 as an account executive, before being promoted to account manager in January 2009. Since joining the firm, he has managed the communications of a number of hedge funds, fund of hedge funds, retail asset managers, specialist service providers and fund administration companies. This diverse range of clients has included communications experience in specialist areas such as emerging markets, renewable energy and secondary markets, as well as more traditional financial service issues.

His previous industry experience includes working for MTV Europe’s press and communications team. James has also worked extensively for MHA, a media training consultancy, in preparing finance professionals from companies such as Standard & Poor’s and Lloyd’s TSB for media presentations.

James holds a BA in English Literature from the University of Sussex.

Adam Honeysett-Watts: Account Manager

Adam joined Hume Brophy in August 2010 as an account manager. His remit is both public relations and public affairs.

Prior to this, Adam provided consultancy services to a portfolio of clients across the financial services sector, including alternative investment firms, business consultancies and specialist service providers, with Cognito. He handled corporate and financial communications, profile building, media relations and events management, as well as online and social strategy.

Adam’s previous industry experience includes working on the business news desk at the Eastern Daily Press and before that, within Bell Pottinger’s public affairs team. He also interned with and produced a parliamentary research report for, the Rt. Hon David Davis MP, the former Shadow Home Secretary.

Adam holds a BA in Politics from the University of East Anglia. He is an associate of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations and a member of the Financial Communications Society.

Matthew Kopetski: Account Manager and Legal Adviser

Matthew Kopetski is an Account Manager and Legal Advisor to Hume Brophy’s Brussels office. He lobbies on behalf of clients at the European Parliament and Commission and provides legal analysis on a wide range of matters involving EU law and with a special emphasis on competition law.

Matthew is a member of the Massachusetts Bar and is registered on the B-List of the Brussels Bar (Flemish Section). Matthew has practiced competition law for large law firms in Ireland and Brussels where he was involved in a number of merger-control filings before the Irish Competition Authority and European Commission. He also has experience advising clients on distribution agreements and State aid.  He earned a Post Graduate Diploma in European Competition Law from King’s College in 2007.

Matthew has lived and worked in several European States (Belgium, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands Poland, and the UK). He has contributed to several publications on Irish and EC competition law.

Imran Majid: Senior Consultant

Imran has five years experience in public relations across a wide range of clients in the financial services industry, with extensive project management experience covering media relations, print and online campaigns including social media across multiple delivery channels.

Imran started working with Hume Brophy in June 2010, having previous worked in a number of financial services focused agencies and business development roles in the publishing and data research sectors.

He holds a 2.1 in Chemical Engineering from the University of Newcastle upon Tyne.

Belinda Marks: Account and Event Manager

Belinda joined Hume Brophy in January 2008 and has responsibility for daily interaction with the media on behalf of clients, organising and assisting of press releases and the design and preparation of pitch material. As part of her role, Belinda also oversees all events and projects on behalf of Hume Brophy’s UK clients.

Prior to joining Hume Brophy, Belinda worked in an event management role with Concept Sports International, managing projects based around the 2007 Rugby World Cup, held in France, and the 2007 Cricket World Cup in the Caribbean.

Belinda holds a Bachelor of Performing Arts from University of Ballarat’s Arts Academy in Australia.

Claire Marnham: Senior Consultant

Claire Marnham has 10 years‟ experience in corporate communications and public relations.

Originally from New Zealand, Claire has a wealth of international agency experience, having worked for leading Australasian agency Professional Public Relations (PPR), and with Hill and Knowlton and Weber Shandwick Worldwide in London. Prior to returning to the UK in June 2005, she ran her own practice in Auckland, New Zealand.

Claire has worked on a range of corporate financial, government relations, business to business, personal finance and consumer marketing accounts for leading global brand clients in the investment, construction, manufacturing, energy, healthcare and FMCG sectors.

Prior to joining Hume Brophy, Claire spent 17 months working alongside MasterCard in a start up team at Advanced Payment Solutions in London to launch cashplus® – the UK’s first prepaid MasterCard, which won best new retail financial services product.

Herman Neukermans: Senior Consultant

Herman Neukermans works with Hume Brophy as a senior consultant and has over twenty years experience in the aviation industry.

Herman joined SABENA Airlines in 1994 and went on to become Airport Development Manager, responsible for strategic negotiations with the Brussels Airport Terminal Company (BATC) on infrastructure and services development.

In 1996 Herman joined BATC as Terminal Operations Manager and when the Brussels International Airport Company (BIAC) was founded in 1998, he was promoted to the position of Vice-President Strategy and Marketing. Herman held this position until his departure from BIAC at the end of 2005.

Herman’s position led to extensive contacts with airlines, airports, industry partners and DG Transport of the European Commission and a broad base of experience in aviation security.

Matthew Orman: Account Director

Matthew is a highly qualified public affairs and communications professional with more than ten years’ experience working in both agencies and the EU institutions.

Before joining Hume Brophy in 2010, Matthew spent over eight years with one of Brussels most established consultancies where he specialised in food, health and external relations policy for clients including Kraft foods, GlaxoSmithKline, Weight-Watchers and the EU-Russia Centre.

Matthew worked for two years in the European Parliament as the assistant for John Bowis MEP, the former co-ordinator for the EPP/ED on the Environment, Health and Consumer Affairs committee.

In addition, he has a strong background in media relations having worked for the Spokesman’s Service of the European Commission and spent two years at a London Public Relations Agency where he specialised in working with the consumer and business to business media.

Matthew has a degree in German from the University of Bristol.  He speaks English, German and French.

Kevin Sammon: Account Manager

Kevin works with our public affairs and corporate communication teams in Dublin where he manages media relations and government affairs for a number of clients.

Since joining Hume Brophy in 2007, Kevin has advised on crisis communications for some of Ireland’s largest companies. He regularly manages media engagement for several corporate clients and retains contacts across print and broadcast media in Ireland. Kevin also acts as a media spokesperson, ensuring that all client statements are clear and effective.

Kevin is active in politics and has spent time as National Communications Coordinator for Ógra Fianna Fáil. From 2008-2009, Kevin advised on the group’s press strategy and relations. He has also advised on several political campaigns during this period. Kevin has also worked as a Press Officer with the Tour of Ireland in 2009. During this time, Kevin dealt with major press agencies including PA, AFP and Reuters, securing high-end coverage for the event.

Kevin has an undergraduate degree in Business and Politics from Trinity College Dublin, he also completed a Diploma in Journalism in 2008.

Anna Sedzik: Account Manager

Anna Sędzik is an Account Manager for Hume Brophy. She joined Hume Brophy in 2007 and specialises in the energy, tobacco, shipping and transport (air, road and rail) sectors. She is involved in developing lobbying strategies and overseeing their subsequent implementation, including the management of client relations, position paper preparation, monitoring EU policy developments and drafting regulatory briefs and reports.

Anna’s previous experience includes serving as an assistant to the former Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mr. Janusz Onyszkiewicz MEP. She has also worked in consular affairs section at the Polish Consulate General in London.

Anna has a Masters degree from Jagiellonian University in Cracow, Poland and from the College of Europe in Bruges, Belgium. She is a native Polish speaker and is fluent in English. She also speaks  French, Russian, and some German.

Trevor Smith: Senior Consultant

Trevor is a consultant specialising in the agri-food business, with 20 years’ experience across the agricultural spectrum and notable expertise in the dairy, cereals and meat sectors.Trevor is also widely experienced in food, environment and trade policy and has co-authored a number of studies in these areas.

Prior to working with Hume Brophy, Trevor worked in the Brussels office of the England and Wales Milk Marketing Board (MMB) and UK Federation of Agricultural Co-operatives (FAC), where he was responsible for communicating MMB/FAC opinions to EU-level decision-makers and represented them at meetings of the pan-European trade body of agricultural co-operatives, and later as a consultant with Brussels-based strategy advisers Business Environment Europe (BEE).

Trevor is fluent in English (mother tongue) and French.  He also speaks Russian, Spanish, German and Croatian.

Gary Titley: Senior Consultant

Gary is a seasoned former European legislator and well-known authority on EU foreign and security policy. He was first elected to the European Parliament in 1989 and went on to serve four consecutive terms.

During this time Gary served as the UK Labour Party’s leader in the EP and also a member of the party’s National Executive. His Committee assignments included Transport, Industry and Energy, Internal Market, Economic and Monetary, Legal Affairs and Foreign Affairs, where he was the spokesman for the Socialist Group. Gary is a specialist on enlargement questions and was the Socialist Group’s Vice-President responsible for the 2004 enlargement.