gagnier communications

Dan Gagnier is the Founder and a Managing Partner of Gagnier Communications LLC. He has worked on numerous corporate positioning programs and actively managed a variety of special situations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia. These include mergers, acquisitions, proxy contests, IPOs, SPACs, restructurings, litigation and other various complex situations. His work spans a multitude of industries including financial services and hedge funds, metals and mining, oil and gas, pharma/biotech, technology and industrial manufacturing. Prior to founding GC in 2016, Mr. Gagnier was a Partner and Managing Director at Sard Verbinnen & Co. Prior to joining SVC in 2000, Mr. Gagnier was an Account Coordinator in the Financial Communications division of GPC Canada Inc. Mr. Gagnier holds a B.A. degree with honors in Political Studies from Bishop’s University in Lennoxville, Quebec.

Lindsay Barber is a Managing Director at Gagnier Communications, where she serves as a trusted advisor to boards, C-suites, and investment firms navigating complex, business-critical situations. With deep expertise across M&A, shareholder activism, leadership transitions, and crisis response, Lindsay has led communications strategies for some of the most high-profile and sensitive corporate events in recent years. Her clients include leading public and private companies, as well as asset managers and private equity, whom she counsels on key reputation matters, including long-term positioning, crisis and issues management, stakeholder and media relations. She brings particular insight into the intersection of corporate strategy and sports business, an area of growing focus. Lindsay holds a B.A. in Political Science from Trinity College.

Ashley Gagnier is a Managing Director at Gagnier Communications. Ashley has worked on numerous corporate positioning and media relations mandates, principally in financial services. Prior to joining Gagnier Communications, Ashley served as a communications manager at Bessemer Venture Partners (BVP), a global venture capital firm with $4.5 billion under management. During her time at BVP, Ashley worked to elevate the firm’s partners and successes in a crowded venture capital ecosystem through strategic communications counsel and multiplatform implementation. She helped to redesign the firm’s website, launched BVP’s blog and handled all social media channels, including Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. In addition to her BVP focused activities, Ashley worked closely with BVP’s portfolio, which encompasses companies from a wide range of sectors, including cloud computing, cyber-security, healthcare, financial services and mobile. Prior to joining BVP, Ashley was a PR specialist at Clifford Chance US LLP, a global law firm. She began her career at financial communications firm Sard Verbinnen & Co. Ashley holds a B.A. in Political Economy from Princeton University.

Louise is a Managing Director at Gagnier Communications. For over twenty years, Louise has provided clients in the U.S, Canada and Europe with strategic communications counsel and support. Louise has worked across industries and has led communications strategies for major business transformations and restructurings, mergers and acquisitions, activist preparedness, and proxy fights. Louise also supports her clients with a wide range of corporate and financial communications needs including disclosure and financial reporting, media relations and thought leadership, employee communication, stakeholder engagement and executive coaching. Prior to joining Gagnier Communications, Louise was a Partner at Longview Communications and Public Affairs. Louise started her career with Edelman Public Relations in London and New York.

Riyaz Lalani is a Managing Director at Gagnier Communications. Riyaz specializes in special situations, including proxy contests, M&A, short seller defences, and litigation communications. His career experience spans communications, finance and investing, C-level public company operating roles, and proxy solicitation. Riyaz was the CEO and founder of a leading financial communications firm, where he led engagements across the United States, Canada, and Europe. Prior to that, he was the Chief Operating Officer of Canada’s largest proxy solicitor. Riyaz has also acted as an independent advisor to public and private companies on strategic and corporate development matters. He held C-level roles at two public companies where his purview included leading the companies’ M&A and integration efforts, investor relations, enhancing corporate governance practices, and strategic and operational duties. Riyaz spent the first 10 years of his career at an international asset manager in New York and Toronto. He is a director of a public company, and a past director of three public companies.