The Bliss Group (Bliss PR): NYC PR Profile, Highwire

The Bliss Group, formerly Bliss Integrated Communication and known as Bliss PR, is a New York PR and marketing firm founded in 1975 that Highwire acquired in an announcement dated January 14, 2026, per the firms' release. Bliss CEO Cortney Stapleton became Highwire's chief strategy and business officer, and the combined firm, operating under the Highwire brand, has more than 250 professionals across North America, per O'Dwyer's. Financial terms were not disclosed.

Originally published July 2018. Updated October 18, 2026.

What did the Highwire acquisition involve?

The January 14, 2026 release says Highwire acquired The Bliss Group, an insight-driven PR and marketing firm, to create an agency partner that connects marketing and communications strategy to business outcomes. Highwire CEO Michael O'Brien said uniting the firms answers the need for partners who can turn complexity into competitive advantage. O'Dwyer's reported that O'Brien remains in his post, that no staff reductions were planned and that Stapleton will lead performance and go-to-market strategy and sit on Highwire's board. Pulse 2.0 reported on January 15, 2026 that GP Bullhound was exclusive financial advisor to Bliss. The healthcare practices of both firms and Bliss Bio Health combine as Highwire Health, spanning consumer health, digital health, healthcare delivery, life sciences and medtech. O'Dwyer's later reported that the new practice brings Highwire's healthcare expertise under a single operating model.

Date	Event	Source
1975	Founded in New York by John Bliss	Agility PR
2014	Management buys the firm back from Dudnyk	O'Dwyer's
January 2021	The Next Practices Group invests; renamed The Bliss Group	Agility PR
2022	Highwire secures investment from Shamrock Capital	Firm release
January 14, 2026	Highwire acquires The Bliss Group	Firm release; O'Dwyer's

Who led The Bliss Group?

When the firm announced the 2021 investment, Michael Roth and Cortney Stapleton became managing partners and Bob Pearson became CEO as chair of The Next Practices Group, per Agility PR. O'Dwyer's later recorded Stapleton's appointment as CEO and listed Roth as managing partner. At acquisition the release quoted Stapleton as CEO of The Bliss Group and incoming chief strategy and business officer at Highwire, who said the two firms were built on shared foundations of deep industry insight, trusted client partnerships and a belief in storytelling. O'Dwyer's reported that she later discussed her leadership philosophy in its Taking the Lead series.

Person	Role	Source
Cortney Stapleton	CEO of Bliss; Highwire chief strategy and business officer	Firm release; O'Dwyer's
Michael Roth	Managing partner; Highwire Health executive chair and general counsel	Firm release
Gloria Vanderham	CEO of Bliss Bio Health	O'Dwyer's

What does The Bliss Group do?

The Bliss Group describes itself as a full-service marketing communications firm with expertise in business and professional services, financial services, healthcare and technology, powered by analytics and audience insights. Agility PR reported that Bliss introduced a digital and social media focus in 2008 and had more than 30 clients and 60 employees at the 2021 investment. O'Dwyer's records a London office opening, a NPG Health life sciences collective launched with The Next Practices Group, and a Bliss Group membership in the CARE Corporate Council.

What recognition has The Bliss Group received?

The firm's own site says it was PRWeek's 2025 Outstanding Corporate Agency and PR Daily's 2024 Agency of the Year, and describes 50 years in business. Agility PR reported that its business and professional services practice was ranked sixth in the U.S. These are the firm's and trade press statements.

How does The Bliss Group compare with other agencies?

The Bliss Group now sits inside Highwire, so the Highwire profile is the best comparison point for its scale. For its sectors, see EPR's financial services PR and healthcare PR sections, and for peers in New York see the best PR firms in New York list and the PR agency profiles directory. Another New York independent with a profile is Lazar Partners.

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Related: PR agency profiles, Highwire, New York PR firms, Financial services PR, Healthcare PR