Sean Neary
Sean Neary
Managing Director
With close to three decades experience at the highest levels of government, business, and media, Sean offers clients counsel in media relations, public affairs, crisis communications, and message development.
At Edelman Smithfield, Sean specializes in developing and executing communications strategies for a host of global financial and capital markets clients. He has personally advised CEOs and other C-suite executives on communications, reputation management, crisis response, litigation, M&A and numerous regulatory issues.
Sean specializes in helping clients navigate Washington, DC’s complex policy environment. Much of his work is at the intersection point where Washington meets Wall Street. He has helped numerous clients navigate regulatory issues with the SEC, CFTC, CFPB and DOJ.
His clients have ranged from Fortune 50 companies to sovereign wealth funds to influential players across the capital markets. Recent clients include Binance, Chime, Meta, Wells Fargo, AXA, Prudential, PayPal, and UBS.
Prior to joining Edelman, Sean served as the Director of Communications for the United States Senate Committee on Finance.
He was responsible for planning and executing the communications strategy for Committee Chairman Max Baucus.
Sean led communications efforts for all international trade, health care and U.S. tax policy issues, including efforts to promote comprehensive tax reform.
He served as the national spokesperson and has on-the-record experience with the New York Times, Financial Times, and The Wall Street Journal, among others.
Previously, Sean served as the communications director and senior advisor to U.S. Senator Kent Conrad, chairman of the Senate Budget Committee. In that role, Sean helped develop legislative strategies around key economic and fiscal policy issues.
Prior to the Senate, Sean was the editorial director at Gen. Colin Powell’s foundation, America’s Promise.
Sean began his career as a journalist, working in New York at both George and Rolling Stone magazines. As a journalist, he wrote for numerous publications, including the Washington Post, the New York Post, Newsweek, People and USA Today.
