STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS

The First Call When it Matters Most.

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

ABOUT GAGNIER FC

Trusted Advisors in Critical Communications

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.

PRACTICE AREAS

Corporate Communications

Crisis Communications

Investor Relations

Shareholder Activism

Transaction Communications

Litigation Support

Restructuring

Digital Strategies

OUR 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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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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.

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.

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Lindsay Barber

MANAGING DIRECTOR

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.

Lindsay Barber – Managing Director

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.

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Nik Schwenker

Senior Vice President

Nik Schwenker is a Senior Vice President at Gagnier Communications. He is a seasoned communications and strategy advisor with extensive experience in crisis communications, M&A, organizational change, and investor relations across highly regulated sectors including pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, professional services, and government.

 

Nik Schwenker – Senior Vice President

Nik Schwenker is a Senior Vice President at Gagnier Communications. He is a seasoned communications and strategy advisor with extensive experience in crisis communications, M&A, organizational change, and investor relations across highly regulated sectors including pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, professional services, and government. Nik regularly counsels C-suite executives on high-impact issues, helping them navigate complex corporate landscapes and shape stakeholder narratives.

Prior to joining Gagnier, Nik served as Vice President of Communications and Chief of Staff at Canopy Growth, where he led communications and advised executive leadership through periods of significant transformation and strategic evolution. He has also held senior roles at KPMG and TELUS Communications, leading corporate positioning and enterprise change programs. Earlier in his career, Nik served in Canadian federal politics as Director of Issues Management and Director of Communications for multiple Cabinet Ministers.

Nik is a graduate of Concordia University and has completed Executive Education through the Schulich School of Business.

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Elizabeth Chaconas

Senior Associate

Elizabeth Chaconas is a Senior Associate at Gagnier Communications. Elizabeth provides strategic communications support to a wide range of clients, including private equity firms and public corporations.

Elizabeth Chaconas – Senior Associate

Elizabeth Chaconas is a Senior Associate at Gagnier Communications. Elizabeth provides strategic communications support to a wide range of clients, including private equity firms and public corporations. Areas of expertise include mergers and acquisitions, equity advisory, and investor relations. Prior to Gagnier, Elizabeth held roles at FGS Global and JPMorgan Chase & Co.

She holds a BS in Business Administration from the University of Southern California and an MSc in Finance from University College Dublin.

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Caitlin McNamara

Senior Associate

Ivanica is an Associate at Gagnier Communications. She works across a broad range of industries supporting media relations, special situations and corporate communications to asset management firms, private equity firms and family offices.

Caitlin McNamara – Senior Associate

Caitlin McNamara is a Senior Associate at Gagnier Communications, where she provides strategic communications support to clients including private equity firms, asset managers, public companies and startups. With experience across reputation management, litigation support, crisis communications and special situations.

Caitlin supports executive teams and senior decision makers navigating high impact issues with key stakeholder audiences. Areas of focus include financial services, sports, entertainment and biotech.

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Molly Broderick

Associate

Molly is an Associate at Gagnier Communications. She assists the firm’s daily operations and corporate and investor communications for clients.

Molly Broderick – Associate

Molly is an Associate at Gagnier Communications. She assists the firm’s daily operations and corporate and investor communications for clients.

Molly joined Gagnier Communications in 2023 after graduating from Trinity College. At Trinity, she earned a BA in Art History with a minor in Formal Organizations with a concentration in Entrepreneurship.

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Brooke Kelly

Associate

Brooke Kelly is an Associate at Gagnier Communications, where she provides strategic communications support to a wide range of clients, including private equity firms, asset managers and public companies.

Brooke Kelly – Associate

Brooke Kelly is an Associate at Gagnier Communications, where she provides strategic communications support to a wide range of clients, including private equity firms, asset managers and public companies. Areas of expertise include mergers and acquisitions, shareholder activist defense, litigation support and crisis communications.

Prior to Gagnier, Brooke worked at FGS Global. She holds a BA in Psychology from Boston College.

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Henry Jones

Junior Associate

Henry is a Junior Associate at Gagnier Communications. He provides daily support to a variety of clients, including media relations and corporate communications.

Henry Jones – Associate

Henry is an Associate at Gagnier Communications. He provides daily support to a variety of clients, including media relations and corporate communications. Henry was previously a Government Affairs and Public Policy Intern at Nicholas & Lence where he supported the agency’s Account Coordinators on various communications initiatives and BID formation projects.

Henry joined Gagnier Communications in 2023 upon his graduation from Miami University, where he earned a B.A. in History with a minor in Political Science.

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Abby Donahoo

Associate

Abby Donahoo is an Associate at Gagnier Communications. She assists with the firm’s daily operations and special situations communications for various clients.

Abby Donahoo – Junior Associate

Abby Donahoo is a Junior Associate at Gagnier Communications. She assists with the firm’s daily operations and special situations communications for various clients.

Abby joined Gagnier Communications in 2024 after graduating from the University of Virginia where she earned a BA in Global Commerce and minor in Business and Sociology.

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Riley McNeill

Junior Associate

Riley McNeill is a Junior Associate at Gagnier Communications. She assists the firm's daily operations and special situations communications for various clients.

Riley McNeill – Junior Associate

Riley McNeill is a Junior Associate at Gagnier Communications. She assists the firm's daily operations and special situations communications for various clients.

Riley joined Gagnier Communications in 2025 after graduating from the University of Virginia. At UVA, she earned a BA in Global Studies with a concentration in Global Public Health and minors in both Data Science and Leadership.

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