Sharon provides communications counsel to Boards of Directors and management teams involved in special situations that may threaten a company’s reputation or management’s credibility. She frequently collaborates with Joele Frank's in-house design and digital teams to introduce innovative approaches to stakeholder engagement and message delivery. Her clients are across sectors. Her expertise includes:​

Corporate Reputation Management and Investor Relations

Sharon helps her clients tell a compelling investment story and convey important information clearly and consistently to external and internal stakeholders. She works with her clients on message development both as part of the ongoing communications program (e.g., earnings, proxy, reputation building) and in connection with an event (IR Day). She conducts message training sessions for her c-suite clients. ​

M&A and Spin-Offs

She has advised numerous companies involved in complex transactions. Many of her M&A engagements convert to long-term IR clients or return for future transactions. She advised Rio Tinto on its pending acquisition of Arcadium and its successful acquisition of Turquoise Hill. Other notable assignments include: Aerospace & Defense — Aerojet Rocketdyne in its sale to L3Harris; Perspecta in its sale to Veritas; CSRA in its response to CACI’s unsolicited proposal. Fintech — Fiserv in numerous transactions, including its acquisition of First Data; Paya in its sale to Nuvei. Healthcare — Centene in numerous acquisitions (WellCare, Fidelis Care and HealthNet); Zimmer Biomet in many acquisitions; Liva Nova in the sale of its CRM Business; St. Jude Medical in numerous transactions. Industrials — 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 — HanesBrands in its sale of Champion to Authentic Brand Group; MasterBrand in its acquisition of Supreme Cabinetry; 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 has advised companies in their interactions with some of the most prominent activist investors, including ​Carl Icahn, DE Shaw, Elliott Management, Engine Capital, Neuberger Berman, Jana Partners, Pentwater, Vision One. ​

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 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 was 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.​