About ClearStory International
ClearStory International specialises in delivering international PR and global recognition for determined technology companies, through our global network of media contacts and editorial talent. With a laser focus on the challenges facing globally ambitious early stage and scaling companies, we understand the growth journey. From seed to post-Series A stage companies, we grow with you to provide the education, services, and expertise required to help you scale and manage your reputation and credibility.
With French, German, Spanish, English and Italian language capabilities and a network of global event partners across North America, Europe, Middle East, and Southeast Asia, we have established a network of journalist contacts from trade, national and international outlets across more than 80 countries.
You can find out more about the ClearStory team and our story below.
OUR TEAM
Meet our team! Click on each team member to learn more.
ANNA SAVAGE
Client Director
CRÓNA ESLER
Account Manager
DOUG WHELAN
Account Manager
JAMES MCCANN
CEO
REBECCA LEE
Senior Director
JULIA TERENO
Account Manager
ANNA SAVAGE
Client Director
Anna Savage is a Client Director at ClearStory International. Anna was previously an Account Manager and is an accomplished communication and marketing creative professional, with entertainment, consumer, and tech public relations experience. Hailing from Toronto, Anna previously worked in the entertainment PR space, on original and acquired programming such as The Handmaid’s Tale, The Days Of Our Lives and The Amazing Race Canada across the Canadian territory. Anna made the move to Dublin in 2018 to develop a career in tech PR. She took a role as Head of Communications and Marketing with a Series A stage company before joining the ClearStory team. She’s since found a new passion for engaging with startups and helping them engage with media and key publics.
CRÓNA ESLER
Account Manager
Cróna Esler is an Account Manager with ClearStory International. An experienced public relations and communications professional, she has a demonstrated history of working in the PR, media, communications, marketing, event management and hospitality industries.
Prior to joining ClearStory, Cróna spent 11 years with the Western People newspaper, where she was Deputy Editor. She is also a published Author (Unless By Invitation – Crimes That Shocked Ireland, Oct 2014). In addition, Cróna has worked in public relations for more than 12 years, managing local, national and international campaigns.
Cróna graduated with a BA (Hons) from the National University of Ireland Maynooth and with an MA (Hons) in Journalism from Dublin Institute of Technology.
DOUG WHELAN
Account Manager
Doug Whelan is an Account Manager at ClearStory International. A highly experienced journalist and media professional with a broad history in publishing and broadcasting. Doug’s career prior to ClearStory included work as a journalist, editor and researcher in organisations such as RTÉ, VIP Publishing and Mediateam along with work for numerous nationwide publications as a freelancer. Doug’s diverse set of skills and experience in Journalism, Media Relations, Radio, Television, and Event Management make him a major asset at ClearStory. Doug has a BA in Film Studies from Dublin Business School as well as a degree in Media and Journalism.
JAMES MCCANN
CEO
James McCann is CEO of ClearStory International. Before establishing ClearStory in 2017, James worked in a number of fields including the Military, Politics, Finance, Education and Media, all of which have furnished him with a broad worldview and a wealth of experience to draw from. James’ experiences as a PR Manager with Web Summit, responsible for attracting top-tier media to the company’s events across Dublin, Lisbon, Bangalore and Hong Kong, helped shape his ideas of how he wanted to form ClearStory. James envisioned ClearStory as a bespoke, specialist PR solutions provider and consultancy focusing on the Tech Startup industry helping companies to scale and grow during their formative years. Additionally, James is also the co-founder and CEO of Everhaze, an online PR platform and database. In the same vein as ClearStory, Everhaze provides a holistic solution to PR problems.
REBECCA LEE
Senior Director
Rebecca is Senior Director at ClearStory International and a journalist and broadcaster of over 22 years (you can see some of her work HERE). Rebecca has written for and continues to contribute to The Business Post, The Irish Times, The Irish Daily Mail, The Sunday World and European tech publication 4i Magazine. She has also worked as a radio presenter with leading Dublin stations Q102 and FM104. Alongside balancing her work in PR and journalism, Rebecca also moderates at events, WebSummit 2022 being the most recent.
An established Irish media and communications specialist and marketing graduate of UCD Smurfit Business School, Rebecca manages editorial both general and strategic at ClearStory International and boasts extensive working media knowledge. Rebecca is no stranger to being in the spotlight and also contributes to various radio and television programs.
JULIA TERENO
Account Manager
Julia Tereno is an Account Manager at ClearStory International. Julia has made Ireland her home since moving over from Brazil in 2018. After studying at Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo where she attained a Bachelor’s degree in Communications and Multimedia, she worked at BRSA – branding and sales as a Senior Account Executive for five years. After moving to Ireland, Julia achieved a Master’s in journalism at the University of Galway in 2019 and went on to work as a Journalist and Researcher at RTE Radio 1 and Newstalk. Since joining Clearstory in 2021 as a senior account executive, Julia has risen through the ranks becoming a consultant and ultimately an account manager in 2022.
OUR STORY
James McCann established ClearStory International in 2017 to help globally focused early-stage and scaling companies to build and manage their reputations anywhere in the world.
ClearStory International now works with 50+ clients across 15 countries and three continents to provide a specialised public relations service that focuses specifically on the needs of early-stage and scaling companies.
With an expanding team of industry experts including former journalists, senior political and business advisors as well as experienced researchers spread across three offices globally, ClearStory International can provide your company with the expertise you need to generate the recognition your company deserves.
James McCann established the company following his time as PR Manager for one of the world’s largest technology conference companies. Attracting top-tier media from across North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia to its regional events, James worked with startup founders to capture their attention.
Despite more than 1,500 startups attending these conferences, they struggle to capture the newsworthiness of their companies citing scalability and accessibility to assistance from global PR agencies as a major challenge. We’ve made it our mission to solve this problem.