New All-Female Leadership Takes Helm at SoolNua

Industry veterans Patrick Delaney and Pádraic Gilligan have handed over the reins of their boutique business events consultancy, SoolNua. Long-time team members Aoife McCrum and Gráinne Ní Ghiollagáin have taken over as joint Owners and Managing Partners.

Delaney and Gilligan founded the Dublin-based consultancy, whose name means "new eye" in Irish, in 2014, with a mission to provide fresh perspectives to the business events sector. The company has stated that it deliberately maintains its boutique size to ensure clients receive direct access to seasoned industry experts rather than junior consultants.

The transition comes as Gilligan stepped down in December after seven years as Chief Marketing Officer at the Society for Incentive Travel Excellence (SITE), a client of SoolNua,

"With a fresh perspective and a renewed vision, we are excited to be shaping the future of SoolNua, driving innovation, and delivering exceptional value for our clients," said McCrum, who has been with the company since its founding.

The leadership change also represents a welcome shift in industry ownership demographics. "As a women-owned business we are committed to the diversity, equity, and inclusion ethos that has been intrinsic to the business since it was first started," noted Ní Ghiollagáin.

Both Delaney and Gilligan will remain connected to the business they built. Delaney will serve as an advisor on select projects and Gilligan will continue to provide strategic direction as part of the operational team. The consultancy will maintain its focus on helping destinations, hotels, venues, and agencies with strategy, marketing, and training.

Delaney and Gilligan's partnership spans three decades. It started when Gilligan left a 13-year career in education to join Delaney in founding Delaney Marketing Consultants in 1994. The pair then acquired Ovation in 2002 and sold it to MCI in 2007. They stayed on, leading MCI's expansion of Ovation globally to over 100 destinations, before setting up SoolNua in 2014. Both have served as international presidents of SITE and have received numerous industry accolades.