We are Lanyon
Situated in Belfast’s vibrant Queen's Quarter, Lanyon specialises in strategic communication, reputation management and stakeholder engagement.
Our exceptional reputation is underpinned by our strong commitment to delivering excellence consistently across our full portfolio of client services.
Combining our corporate communications and marketing expertise, long-established relationships and market knowledge, we work closely in partnership with local and international clients to help them achieve their full growth potential.
Lanyon was established in 2014 by Katie Doran and Jonathan Ireland, who have a combined experience of over 35 years in corporate communications in UK and Ireland and further afield.
Both partners have worked with leading retail banks, international law firms, investment funds and commercial property clients, as well as blue-chip companies drawn from a diverse range of sectors.
Our deep knowledge and understanding of the business environment ensure that Lanyon truly adds value to every organisation with whom we work.
Katie Doran
Co-Founder & Partner
Katie Doran
Co-Founder & PartnerA founding partner of Lanyon, Katie Doran is one of the most experienced communications specialists in Northern Ireland. She has over twenty years’ experience advising many of Northern Ireland’s leading firms across a multitude of sectors. These include law and accounting firms, financial institutions, utilities, charities, technology companies and real estate investors.
She regularly acts as a strategic advisor to CEOs and senior leaders across a range of internal and external communication themes, including strategy, culture, leadership communications, stakeholder engagement and issues management.
Katie has acted as a lead advisor on a number of high profile serious situation issues, and is regarded as a “go to” person for issues management in Northern Ireland. She is also widely renowned for her knowledge of the real estate investment sector and placemaking and has unparalleled expertise and experience in working closely with institutional investors and developers across office, residential, mixed use and regeneration developments in the UK and Ireland.
Katie is a member of the Connect Leadership Team at Catalyst Inc, the Communications Leadership Group at Business in the Community, and she also sits on the CBI Economic Affairs Committee in NI.
Co-Founder & PartnerA founding partner of Lanyon, Katie Doran is one of the most experienced communications specialists in Northern Ireland. She has over twenty years’ experience advising many of Northern Ireland’s leading firms across a multitude of sectors. These include law and accounting firms, financial institutions, utilities, charities, technology companies and real estate investors.
She regularly acts as a strategic advisor to CEOs and senior leaders across a range of internal and external communication themes, including strategy, culture, leadership communications, stakeholder engagement and issues management.
Katie has acted as a lead advisor on a number of high profile serious situation issues, and is regarded as a “go to” person for issues management in Northern Ireland. She is also widely renowned for her knowledge of the real estate investment sector and placemaking and has unparalleled expertise and experience in working closely with institutional investors and developers across office, residential, mixed use and regeneration developments in the UK and Ireland.
Katie is a member of the Connect Leadership Team at Catalyst Inc, the Communications Leadership Group at Business in the Community, and she also sits on the CBI Economic Affairs Committee in NI.
Jonathan Ireland
Co-Founder & Partner
Jonathan Ireland
Co-Founder & PartnerJonathan has worked with leading retail banks and professional services firms, utilities and local government organisations, as well as consumer brands and a diverse portfolio of blue chip companies drawn from a range of other business sectors in the UK, Ireland and further afield.
He advises clients on a wide range of issues to support their business growth and success – including media relations and marketing; employee engagement and cultural change management; stakeholder engagement; reputation/crisis management; and sponsorship/partnership management.
Jonathan sits of Boards of The Ireland Funds and Crimestoppers in Northern Ireland, and CRY Ireland in Dublin. He is a member Council of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry and is a School Governor at a Belfast Grammar School.
Co-Founder & PartnerJonathan has worked with leading retail banks and professional services firms, utilities and local government organisations, as well as consumer brands and a diverse portfolio of blue chip companies drawn from a range of other business sectors in the UK, Ireland and further afield.
He advises clients on a wide range of issues to support their business growth and success – including media relations and marketing; employee engagement and cultural change management; stakeholder engagement; reputation/crisis management; and sponsorship/partnership management.
Jonathan sits of Boards of The Ireland Funds and Crimestoppers in Northern Ireland, and CRY Ireland in Dublin. He is a member Council of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce & Industry and is a School Governor at a Belfast Grammar School.
David Elliott
Senior Client Director
David Elliott
Senior Client DirectorAs a former business and financial journalist with over 17-years’ experience, David brings his content development, writing and media experience to bear for clients ranging from professional services, technology, financial services, education, energy, real estate and agri-food.
David has an unapparelled global media contact base which gives Lanyon clients a distinct advantage when reaching international audiences. He is an expert at making the complex simple given his innate ability in tackling complicated subject matter and simplifying to reach wider audiences.
Starting his career in the agri-food sector, David moved to London to work for Dow Jones Newswires for eight years, progressing to news editor for energy market, contributing daily to the Wall Street Journal and appearing regularly on financial news channel CNBC. After moving back to Northern Ireland, David worked as Group Business Editor at The Belfast Telegraph and editor of Ulster Business magazine, while also presenting twice-daily business news slots for Downtown Radio and Cool FM and as a freelance contributor to publications ranging from BBC to The Wall Street Journal.
David sits on the board of Crimestoppers Northern Ireland.
Senior Client DirectorAs a former business and financial journalist with over 17-years’ experience, David brings his content development, writing and media experience to bear for clients ranging from professional services, technology, financial services, education, energy, real estate and agri-food.
David has an unapparelled global media contact base which gives Lanyon clients a distinct advantage when reaching international audiences. He is an expert at making the complex simple given his innate ability in tackling complicated subject matter and simplifying to reach wider audiences.
Starting his career in the agri-food sector, David moved to London to work for Dow Jones Newswires for eight years, progressing to news editor for energy market, contributing daily to the Wall Street Journal and appearing regularly on financial news channel CNBC. After moving back to Northern Ireland, David worked as Group Business Editor at The Belfast Telegraph and editor of Ulster Business magazine, while also presenting twice-daily business news slots for Downtown Radio and Cool FM and as a freelance contributor to publications ranging from BBC to The Wall Street Journal.
David sits on the board of Crimestoppers Northern Ireland.
Gavin Williamson
Associate
Gavin Williamson
Senior AssociateA Chartered PR Practitioner, Gavin joined the Lanyon team in January 2016 and holds a first-class honours degree in Marketing.
Senior AssociateA Chartered PR Practitioner, Gavin joined the Lanyon team in January 2016 and holds a first-class honours degree in Marketing.
Matthew Jeffrey
Senior Associate
Matthew Jeffrey
Senior AssociateUpon graduating from QUB, Matthew joined Lanyon in 2015 and has a particular focus on PR & media engagement, design and events management.
Senior AssociateUpon graduating from QUB, Matthew joined Lanyon in 2015 and has a particular focus on PR & media engagement, design and events management.
Esmée Hall
Client Executive
Esmée Hall
Client ExecutiveEsmée is a Durham University graduate with marketing, brand and PR experience within the food, alcohol, sports and entertainment industries. She has an ever-growing passion for all things social and digital, and recently obtained an Executive Diploma in Strategic Digital Marketing from the Marketing Institute of Ireland.
Client ExecutiveEsmée is a Durham University graduate with marketing, brand and PR experience within the food, alcohol, sports and entertainment industries. She has an ever-growing passion for all things social and digital, and recently obtained an Executive Diploma in Strategic Digital Marketing from the Marketing Institute of Ireland.
Shauna Murphy
Client Executive
Shauna Murphy
Client ExecutiveShauna graduated from Ulster University in 2019, where she studied Interior Design. Before joining Lanyon in June 2021, she spent two years working at Ulster University as Vice President for Belfast for Ulster University's Students' Union.
Client ExecutiveShauna graduated from Ulster University in 2019, where she studied Interior Design. Before joining Lanyon in June 2021, she spent two years working at Ulster University as Vice President for Belfast for Ulster University's Students' Union.
Athena Stokes
Designer
Athena Stokes
DesignerGraduating in 2020, Athena holds a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration with a diploma in Professional Practice with distinction, an Ulster EDGE Excel Award, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Graduate Leadership from Ulster University.
She was a creative participant in the Publicity Association of Northern Ireland (PANI) Advertising Competition in partnership with Ulster University for two years in a row, winning in 2017. Athena has experience working within corporate, studio and freelance environments.
DesignerGraduating in 2020, Athena holds a degree in Graphic Design and Illustration with a diploma in Professional Practice with distinction, an Ulster EDGE Excel Award, and a Postgraduate Certificate in Graduate Leadership from Ulster University.
She was a creative participant in the Publicity Association of Northern Ireland (PANI) Advertising Competition in partnership with Ulster University for two years in a row, winning in 2017. Athena has experience working within corporate, studio and freelance environments.
Our Services
Market Intelligence
- Stakeholder Engagement and Relationship Management
- Business development support
- Market insight
- Media and competitor monitoring
Corporate Positioning
- PR and media relations
- Corporate messaging development
- Market positioning for investment
- Destination and place making communications
- Media and presentation skills training
Culture and Engagement
- Internal communications strategy and delivery
- Employee engagement initiatives (surveys, focus groups etc.)
- Internal workshop facilitation
- Change management communications
Digital and Content
- Digital media strategy and management
- Video production
- Graphic design
- Web development
Crisis and Issue Management
- Proactive crisis communications planning
- Reactive crisis communications management
- Reputation management
- 24/7 press office
Conferences and events
- Event strategy and end-to-end delivery
- Local and international conference management
- Content strategy and curation
- Speaker management
- Sponsorship management