Praytell hires Ketchum’s Sean Flynn to co-lead sports practice

AUSTIN, TX: Praytell has hired Sean Flynn as SVP of its new sports practice. 

Flynn joined Praytell this month, reporting to CEO Andy Pray. He will lead the practice, which has 10 staffers, alongside SVP Stephanie Shambo.

“This is a new role for the agency,” said Flynn, via email. “This is the right time to invest in sports, building on a foundation of work across the agency.” 

Flynn said that any brand can be a “sports” brand. Client demand for sports expertise is booming with the Summer Olympic Games in Paris starting next month and other major events taking place around the globe.  

“Our job is to help any brand tell a meaningful story that people care about,” Flynn said. “And, in my opinion, sports stories are the most memorable.”

Flynn will help sports clients maximize their investments, identify opportunities for brands and grow the agency’s roster of clients.

The agency has worked with Dick’s Sporting Goods, AllTrails and Sea-Doo. 

Flynn will also play a central role in supporting the sports, gaming and entertainment initiative of Praytell holding company Project, which brings people from the network together in a “one agency” approach, Flynn said. 

Most recently, Flynn co-led Ketchum’s sports practice as SVP. He worked for the Omnicom Group firm in various roles since first starting there in 2010, but left for a brief stint working on global consumer PR at Netflix between 2017 and 2018.

A Ketchum spokesperson was not immediately available for comment. 

Brooklyn, New York-based Praytell was recently hired by the Cayman Islands Department of Tourism as its U.S. PR and influencer AOR.

The agency reported a revenue decrease of 3% to $28 million globally and a 2% decrease to $28 million in the U.S. in 2023, according to PRWeek’s Agency Business Report 2024.