Presenting an exclusive in-person Executive Roundtable Breakfast, Capitalizing Communications: Trends in Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity, Raising Capital, and Agency Financing, on Thursday, January 30, 2025, at 8:30 a.m. at Davis+Gilbert in New York City.
With the announcement of the largest M&A deal in the industry between Omnicom and Interpublic this December, along with private equity firms actively acquiring PR agencies and the potential for further consolidation following the Omnicom/IPG merger, this roundtable offers a vital forum to explore and discuss these pivotal trends.
Speakers:
Reed Phillips, CEO, Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips – A leading mid-market investment bank in media and marketing
Barri Rafferty, CEO, Sodali & Co – A leading provider of proxy solicitation, shareholder engagement, governance and sustainability services
Brad Schwartzberg, Co-Head of Davis+Gilbert’s Corporate and M&A Practices
This event, hosted by Davis+Gilbert, includes a panel discussion followed by a roundtable, offering you the opportunity to engage directly with industry leaders and fellow senior executives.
Attendance is by invitation only and exclusively for CommPRO + CommunicationsMatch™ members and C-suite executives.
About Our Speakers:
Reed Phillips, CEO, Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips
Reed is CEO and managing partner of Oaklins DeSilva+Phillips in New York, which he co-founded in 1996. Reed specializes in sell-side M&A in several industry sectors, including consumer and B2B media, advertising, market research, consulting, events, information, social media, marketing services and subscriptions. His recent transactions include the sale of Advertising Week, the leading events company for the advertising industry, to Emerald; the sale of Purpose, a social impact agency, to Capgemini; the sale of TechMedia, a conference business, to RLJ Equity Partners; and the sale of three divisions of Bonnier Corporation—two magazine divisions and the leading advisory business in DE&I for the Fortune 100. He also acquired the consumer media company Essence from Time Inc. and the B2B media company Kiplinger for Dennis Publishing.
Reed has been an investment banker for 33 years and has completed over 200 M&A transactions. In 2021, his book “QuickValue: Discover Your Value and Empower Your Business in Three Easy Steps” was published by McGraw Hill. The book provides a new valuation methodology for midsize companies. From 2017-2021, Reed was president and chairman of Oaklins International. In 2007, he was awarded “Media Deal of the Year” by Mergers & Acquisitions. Reed is frequently called on to comment on M&A by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg TV, and the Financial Times and he has published articles in Harvard Business Review, The Washington Post, Advertising Age, and The Deal. He is a graduate of Duke University.
Barri Rafferty, CEO, Sodali & Co
Barri Rafferty is the CEO of Americas at Sodali & Co, where she leads the firm's North and South American businesses in winning the hearts and minds of stakeholders. Sodali & Co's advisory services combined with rich capital market data deliver a unique blend of shareholder services, governance & sustainability, and strategic communications. She has also held executive roles as Global CEO of Ketchum and EVP of Brand and Communications at Wells Fargo, where she rebuilt trust for the brand. Barri also served as interim CEO of C200, advancing women in business. She has consulted top global brands, including P&G, Nestle, and Pfizer, driving value through various complex business situations. A passionate advocate for DE&I, she received the 2024 Luminary Award from The Diversity and Flexibility Alliance and is a sought-after speaker.
Brad Schwartzberg, Co-Head of Davis+Gilbert’s Corporate and M&A Practices
Brad is a responsive, creative, and practical attorney with a goal-oriented approach to representing his clients. As a partner and co-chair of the Corporate + Transactions Practice Group, he has decades of experience working with domestic and international clients in the marketing communications, technology, media, distribution, and service industries. Brad specializes in mergers and acquisitions, minority and majority investments, commercial financings, and incentive compensation arrangements. He believes in understanding his clients' operational and economic objectives to achieve optimal outcomes. Over the past 30 years, Brad has closed hundreds of transactions on both the buy and sell sides, leveraging his problem-solving skills and experience to navigate even the most complex deals efficiently.
Brad’s clients include international marketing communication, media, and technology companies, many of whom seek his counsel on long-term strategies such as preparing for an ultimate sale or facilitating growth through strategic M&A initiatives. Known for his straightforward communication style, Brad simplifies complex deal terms and structures while using his strong mathematical background to develop realistic pricing and incentive-based arrangements. In addition to his M&A expertise, Brad designs compensation plans that help employers attract and retain top talent, ensuring alignment with revenue and profitability goals. Fluent in Japanese, Brad earned a master’s degree in the language from Sophia University in Japan.