Melissa Johnson
Managing Director
Melissa provides strategic communications counsel and support to boards of directors and company executives. She has significant experience navigating complex, high-stakes situations, including M&A, corporate transformations and integrations, crises, management changes, and shareholder activism. She also assists clients with ongoing reputation management, investor relations, and employee communications. Melissa is passionate about building long-term relationships with her clients and acts as a candid advisor and fierce advocate.
Credentials
Melissa received a BA in political science from Vassar College.
Recent Highlights
Select Experience
M&A and Integration
elissa supports clients through every stage of the M&A process, developing messaging and communications to effectively announce the transaction to the market, communicate during the integration planning process, navigate regulatory and shareholder challenges through the sign to close period, and embed culture and efficiencies following close. Recent examples include Helmerich & Payne on the acquisition and integration of KCA Deutag; Catalent in its sale to Novo Holdings; Amcor in its proposed merger with Berry Global; Bristol Myers Squibb in its acquisitions and integrations of Celgene, MyoKardia, Turning Point, Mirati, RayzeBio and Karuna; Everbridge in its sale to Thoma Bravo; Cerevel in its sale to AbbVie; Magellan in its merger and integration with ONEOK; Life Storage in its combination with Extra Space and prior to that in its response to an unsolicited proposal from Public Storage; Sumitomo Pharma in the merger and integration of seven of its U.S. subsidiaries; and Hyatt in its integration of Apple Leisure Group.
Crisis Communications
Melissa has supported clients in navigating a broad array of crises, including the impact of tariffs, regional conflicts, social movements, natural disasters and the COVID-19 pandemic; allegations of executive misconduct, fraud and accounting irregularities; cybersecurity breaches; earnings surprises; government investigations and regulatory actions; and litigation.
Investor Relations
Melissa works closely with her clients to refine their corporate story and enhance their communications strategy, including for quarterly earnings and investor days.
Shareholder Activism Defense
Melissa has advised many companies on public and private activist situations, including in the context of M&A. She has helped companies defend against some of the most prominent activist investors, including Elliott, Engaged, Ancora, Carl Icahn, Starboard and Third Point.
In Conversation
Personal Side