Tim Ragones
Managing Director
Tim has more than 20 years of communications experience, including nearly a decade as a broadcast journalist. He advises management teams and boards on strategic and crisis communications, as well as media and investor relations, for both complex, high-profile situations and ongoing programs. He also regularly coaches executives to prepare for media interviews, IR engagements, corporate presentations, panel discussions and speeches.
Credentials
Tim received an MS in finance from the University of Rochester’s Simon Business School, an MA in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia and a BA cum laude in history from Princeton University. Tim joined Joele Frank in 2016. He previously worked at Prosek and in firmwide PR and communications at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Recent Highlights
Select Experience
M&A/Transactions
Tim advises clients in friendly and unsolicited M&A transactions, IPOs and SPACs. His experience includes: the special committee of the board of directors of Nordstrom in its sale to certain members of the Nordstrom family and El Puerto de Liverpool; Neiman Marcus Group in its sale to HBC, and its partnership with and investment by FARFETCH; Syneos Health in its sale to Elliott, Patient Square and Veritas Capital; Aerojet Rocketdyne in its sale to L3Harris; Broadcom in its acquisitions of VMware, Symantec’s enterprise security business, and CA Technologies, and proposal to acquire Qualcomm; Apollo in its acquisition of Athene; S&P Global in its acquisition of IHS Markit; and Gannett in its sale to New Media and defense against an unsolicited proposal by MNG.
Cybersecurity
Tim has considerable experience supporting clients in cybersecurity preparedness and incident response. Clients have spanned industries, including financial services, retail, technology and hospitality. Notable public matters include the Yahoo! breaches – the largest in history affecting more than 3 billion user accounts – and Neiman Marcus Group.
Crisis Communications
Tim advises clients on unplanned leadership and Board changes, shareholder activism and short attacks, earnings surprises, regulatory actions and inquiries, and litigation.
Financial Sponsors
Tim advises alternative investment firms and their portfolio companies on transactions and crises, as well as ongoing media and investor relations. Current clients include Apollo, Arcline, B Capital, L Catterton, and ZCG.
Restructuring, Bankruptcy & Liability Management
Tim advises clients on both court-supervised and out-of-court restructurings. His experience includes: Avianca, Bon-Ton Stores, Constellis, General Wireless (RadioShack), Homer City Generation, Libbey, Pier 1, Service King and Taco Bueno Restaurants.
In Conversation
How does your broadcast journalism experience help you in your current role?
First, my media experience provides a comfort level in speaking to reporters and understanding the newsgathering process and how they approach a story. Second, in today’s fragmented media environment, an unedited, uninterrupted live TV interview still has enormous value for our clients to speak directly to investors, customers, employees and other audiences. An interview may sound conversational, but it’s not a conversation. Success requires sufficient preparation and practice. Having conducted and listened to thousands of broadcast interviews, I help our clients maximize that opportunity with: 1) focused messages tied to their business goals; and 2) delivery and body language that communicates confidence and authenticity.
What was it like to work in communications for a major law firm?
Law firm communications educated me on high-stakes M&A, shareholder activism, restructuring and litigation – the work our firm is known for. What I realized, though, is that I wanted to be in “the room where it happens” – counseling C-suites and boards on communications strategy and execution, not in law firm marketing once everything was announced! I’m still thankful for those few years living in Chicago. I met several close friends, ran a number of marathons and found a career path that continues to be both rewarding and challenging.
How does your broadcast journalism experience help you in your current role?
First, my media experience provides a comfort level in speaking to reporters and understanding the newsgathering process and how they approach a story. Second, in today’s fragmented media environment, an unedited, uninterrupted live TV interview still has enormous value for our clients to speak directly to investors, customers, employees and other audiences. An interview may sound conversational, but it’s not a conversation. Success requires sufficient preparation and practice. Having conducted and listened to thousands of broadcast interviews, I help our clients maximize that opportunity with: 1) focused messages tied to their business goals; and 2) delivery and body language that communicates confidence and authenticity.
What was it like to work in communications for a major law firm?
Law firm communications educated me on high-stakes M&A, shareholder activism, restructuring and litigation – the work our firm is known for. What I realized, though, is that I wanted to be in “the room where it happens” – counseling C-suites and boards on communications strategy and execution, not in law firm marketing once everything was announced! I’m still thankful for those few years living in Chicago. I met several close friends, ran a number of marathons and found a career path that continues to be both rewarding and challenging.
Personal Side