Founded: San Francisco (EPR's earlier profile said 2008; not independently re-confirmed)
Headquarters: 727 Sansome Street, San Francisco (O'Dwyer's listing)
Leadership: Michael O'Brien (CEO since May 2025), Cortney Stapleton (Chief Strategy and Business Officer), Michael Byrnes (Chief Growth Officer)
Ownership: Private; strategic investment from Shamrock Capital in 2022
Size: More than 250 professionals across North America after the January 2026 Bliss Group acquisition (company-reported)
Specialty: Technology, cybersecurity, AI, healthcare and financial services communications
Acquisitions: Wonderscript, and The Bliss Group (January 2026)
Website: highwirepr.com
Last verified: October 14, 2026 (leadership, investor and acquisitions, against Highwire's GlobeNewswire release, O'Dwyer's and trade coverage; founding year and revenue not re-confirmed)
Published October 14, 2026.
What is Highwire?
Highwire is a San Francisco strategic communications agency backed by Shamrock Capital and led by CEO Michael O'Brien, which acquired The Bliss Group in 2026. It serves technology, cybersecurity, AI, healthcare and financial services brands with PR, content, digital marketing and demand programs.
Who leads Highwire?
Highwire named Michael O'Brien CEO on May 13, 2025, succeeding interim CEO Carol Carrubba, according to a GlobeNewswire release. O'Brien spent 23 years at Ketchum, more than 10 of them as chief client officer. O'Dwyer's also reports Michael Byrnes was promoted to chief growth officer in 2025.
Who owns Highwire?
Los Angeles investment firm Shamrock Capital made a strategic growth investment in Highwire in 2022, as O'Dwyer's reported, and Shamrock partner Mike Wilkins sits on its board. The agency says it remains independent of any holding company.
What did Highwire acquire in 2026?
In January 2026 Highwire acquired New York-based The Bliss Group, creating a firm of more than 250 professionals, O'Dwyer's reported. Bliss CEO Cortney Stapleton became Highwire's chief strategy and business officer, and the two healthcare practices, with Bliss Bio Health, combined as Highwire Health. Bliss managing partner Michael Roth became general counsel and executive chair of Highwire Health.
Earlier, Highwire acquired the digital communications consultancy Wonderscript, per O'Dwyer's.
What does Highwire do?
The agency describes itself as a strategic marketing communications agency partnering with brands at the intersection of innovation and industry. Its work spans media relations, content, digital marketing and demand generation, with Highwire Health covering consumer health, digital health, healthcare delivery, life sciences and medtech.
Michael O'Brien has been CEO since May 2025, after 23 years at Ketchum.
Who owns Highwire?
Highwire is privately held and received a strategic investment from Shamrock Capital in 2022.
What is Highwire Health?
Highwire Health is the healthcare practice formed in January 2026 from Highwire, The Bliss Group and Bliss Bio Health. Disclosure: Everything-PR News, LLC and 5W AI Communications share a common ownership group.
Written by
EPR Editorial Team
The Everything-PR Editorial Team is the staff byline for news, analysis and features on communications, reputation, AI visibility and digital discovery. Everything-PR has published since 2009. AI tools assist with research and drafting, and every article is reviewed by a human editor before publication. Coverage follows the Editorial Policy, and substantive corrections are noted on the article under the Corrections Policy.
