Sharon provides communications counsel to Boards of Directors and management teams involved in complex, special situations that may threaten a company’s reputation or management’s credibility. Her clients are across sectors and include global public enterprises, as well as small and mid-cap companies. Her expertise includes:

Investor Relations and Public Relations

Sharon helps her clients tell a compelling investment story and convey important information clearly and consistently to external and internal stakeholders. This includes incorporating ESG goals and accomplishments into the corporate narrative and linking them to business objectives. She works with her clients on message development both as part of the ongoing IR/PR program (e.g., earnings or IR Days) and in times of transformation.

M&A and Spin-Offs

Over her 20 years with Joele Frank, she has advised numerous companies involved in complex transactions. Many of her M&A engagements convert into long-term clients or return for future transactions. She recently advised Rio Tinto in its successful acquisition of Turquoise Hill. Other notable assignments include: Aerospace & Defense — Aerojet Rocketdyne in its pending sale to L3Harris, and its prior attempted sale to Lockheed Martin; Perspecta in its sale to Veritas; Flir in its sale to Teledyne; CSRA in its response to CACI’s unsolicited proposal. Fintech — Fiserv in numerous transactions, including its acquisition of First Data; Paya in its pending sale to Nuvei. Healthcare — Centene in numerous acquisitions, including WellCare, Fidelis Care and HealthNet; Zimmer Biomet in many acquisitions; Teladoc in its acquisition of Livongo; Liva Nova in the sale of its CRM Business; St. Jude Medical in numerous transactions. Industrials & Auto — IEA in its sale to MasTec; Tenneco in its sale to Apollo; Neenah and SWM in their merger to become Mativ; Bemis in its sale to Amcor. Retail — The Jones Group in numerous transactions including its sale to Sycamore Partners and adidas and Reebok in their merger. Spin-Offs — Alcoa (Arconic); Oneok (OneGas); Pentair (NVent); Zimmer Biomet (ZimVie). Sharon also advises companies on integration programs post M&A.

Shareholder Activism Defense

She advises companies facing some of the most prominent activist investors — Carl Icahn, Elliott Management, Starboard, Engine Capital, among others. Some of her public experience in activism and proxy contests includes: Elliott (Clarivate, Arconic), Icahn (Dana, Nuance), Jana (Perspecta), Starboard (Bemis), Ides Capital (Boingo), and Pentwater (Rio Tinto).

Litigation and Crisis Communications

She advises companies in connection with sensitive and highly nuanced matters that can impact a company’s reputation, including sudden management changes, work force reductions, product recalls, FDA 483 and Warning letters, FCPA violations and other federal agency inquiries. She closely coordinates with the client’s legal team to ensure the communications strategy supports the litigation objectives and maintains credibility.

Sharon joined Joele Frank shortly after the firm’s founding in 2000. Sharon is a recipient of The M&A Advisor “Emerging Leaders” award, and is a member of CHIEF and the Financial Women’s Association. She provided pro bono PR counsel to the Hetrick-Martin Institute in connection with the launch of the Milk High School in NYC. Previously, she served as External Affairs Officer at the World Bank. Sharon received a BA in international affairs, cum laude, from The George Washington University.