Weblogo

A premier strategic communications agency delivering focused, experienced counsel for corporate and financial clients.

The first call when it matters most.

LEARN MORE

ABOUT

Gagnier Communications (GC) is a strategic PR & IR agency, serving clients across North America, Europe and Asia. We are based in New York City.

The team has led numerous corporate positioning and investor relations programs and has been actively involved in numerous special situations in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia and Asia.

From senior counsel through to implementation of full-scale communications and investor relations programs, GC has assisted clients in critical assignments covering high-profile positioning assignments, shareholder activism, mergers, acquisitions, restructurings, litigation and other complex situations.

TEAM

Dan Gagnier

Founder and Managing Partner

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.

Dan Gagnier – Founder and Managing Partner

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.

FULL BIO

Ashley Gagnier

Managing Director

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.

Ashley Gagnier – Managing Director

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.

FULL BIO

Louise Kozier

Managing Director

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 Kozier – Managing Director

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.

FULL BIO

Riyaz Lalani

Managing Director

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 Lalani – Managing Director

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.

FULL BIO

Lindsay Barber

Vice President

Lindsay Barber is a Vice President at Gagnier Communications.  Lindsay provides strategic counsel and communications support to wide range of corporate clients, including private equity firms, public corporations and asset management firms. Areas of expertise include mergers and acquisitions, shareholder activism, executive leadership changes and crisis communications, with a particular interest in sports business. She also assists clients with ongoing investor relations, corporate positioning and media relations strategies.

Lindsay Barber – Vice President

Lindsay Barber is a Vice President at Gagnier Communications.  Lindsay provides strategic counsel and communications support to wide range of corporate clients, including private equity firms, public corporations and asset management firms. Areas of expertise include mergers and acquisitions, shareholder activism, executive leadership changes and crisis communications, with a particular interest in sports business. She also assists clients with ongoing investor relations, corporate positioning and media relations strategies.

Lindsay holds a B.A. in Political Science from Trinity College.

FULL BIO

Jeremy Schulman

Senior Associate

Jeremy Schulman is a Senior Associate at Gagnier Communications.  He supports the day-to-day communications initiatives for clients across the asset management, industrial and commodities sectors. In addition, he supports the firm’s crises and special situations practice in key areas such as shareholder activism, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and SPACs. He also assists clients with ongoing investor relations and strategic media engagement.

Jeremy Schulman – Senior Associate

Jeremy Schulman is a Senior Associate at Gagnier Communications.  He supports the day-to-day communications initiatives for clients across the asset management, industrial and commodities sectors. In addition, he supports the firm’s crises and special situations practice in key areas such as shareholder activism, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and SPACs. He also assists clients with ongoing investor relations and strategic media engagement.

Jeremy joined Gagnier Communications in 2018. He graduated from The University of New Hampshire with a B.S. in Finance from the Peter T. Paul College of Business and Economics.

FULL BIO

Ally McCleary

Junior Associate

Ally McCleary is a Junior Associate at Gagnier Communications.  She supports day-to-day and special situations communications for a diverse group of clients, including private equity firms, public corporations and asset management firms, across various industries.

Ally McCleary – Junior Associate

Ally McCleary is a Junior Associate at Gagnier Communications.  She supports day-to-day and special situations communications for a diverse group of clients, including private equity firms, public corporations and asset management firms, across various industries. Ally joined GC in July 2022 upon her graduation from Tulane University, where she earned a B.A. in Economics and minors in Psychology and Management.

FULL BIO

Ivanica Skalko

Junior Associate

Ivanica Skalko is a Junior Associate at Gagnier Communications.  She supports the firm’s day-to-day operations, including strategic and special situations communications, for a variety of clients, including asset management firms, family offices, public corporations and private equity firms.

Ivanica Skalko – Junior Associate

Ivanica Skalko is a Junior Associate at Gagnier Communications.  She supports the firm’s day-to-day operations, including strategic and special situations communications, for a variety of clients, including asset management firms, family offices, public corporations and private equity firms. Ivanica joined GC in July 2022 upon her graduation from Villanova University, where she earned a B.A. in Communication and minors in English and Peace & Justice Studies. 

FULL BIO

PRACTICE AREAS

Corporate Communications

Crisis Communications

Investor Relations

Shareholder Activism

Transaction Communications

Litigation Support

Restructuring

Digital Strategies