Peppercomm: New York Humor-Led Communications Profile
Peppercomm is a New York humor-led PR agency founded in 1995 and owned by Ruder Finn since 2022, led by co-presidents Jacqueline Kolek and Maggie O'Neill.
Specialty
Specialty & Niche
Updated
Nov 2, 2026
Desk
EPR Editorial Team
Firm summary
Peppercomm is a New York integrated communications and marketing agency founded in 1995 by Steve Cody and owned by Ruder Finn since March 31, 2022. Jacqueline Kolek and Maggie O'Neill have led it as co-presidents since March 2025, with offices in New York, San Francisco and London. It is best known for a humor-led culture, including stand-up comedy training for staff and comedy workshops for clients.
Originally published June 2026. Updated November 2, 2026.
In this profile
What is Peppercomm?
Peppercomm is an integrated communications and marketing agency headquartered in New York City, with offices in San Francisco and London per the firm's own description. Since March 2022 it has operated as a Ruder Finn company while keeping the Peppercomm name. The firm describes its approach as a science of communication that pairs wit with proven communications discipline, and it applies humor to both its internal culture and its client work.
By trade-press fee income, Peppercomm is a mid-sized New York firm: O'Dwyer's ranked it 58th in 2021 with $9.2 million. Its reputation rests less on size than on a clear point of view. Agency buyers who want senior, personality-led counsel in financial and professional services, B2B, education and consumer categories will find it a distinctive option in the New York market.
Who owns Peppercomm?
Ruder Finn announced on March 31, 2022 that it had acquired Peppercomm, describing it as a firm that uses the science of humor to solve complex problems. Peppercomm's employees in New York, San Francisco and London continued under the Peppercomm brand, with no layoffs announced. Cody stayed on as CEO at that time, reporting to Ruder Finn CEO Kathy Bloomgarden. Ruder Finn also acquired Touchdown PR.
| Date | Ownership milestone | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Peppercomm founded in New York by Steve Cody | Peppercomm; Crain's New York Business |
| 2021 | $9.2 million in fee income, ranked 58th | O'Dwyer's |
| March 31, 2022 | Ruder Finn acquires Peppercomm; brand and offices retained | Ruder Finn and Peppercomm announcement |
| March 6, 2025 | Kolek and O'Neill become managing directors of Ruder Finn and co-presidents of Peppercomm | Peppercomm; O'Dwyer's |
Who leads Peppercomm?
On March 6, 2025, Peppercomm announced that Jacqueline Kolek and Maggie O'Neill were promoted to managing directors of Ruder Finn and co-presidents of Peppercomm. Cody moved to senior executive advisor, a role focused on industry connection, brand building and thought leadership, and said he was passing the baton as the firm marked its 30th anniversary.
| Name | Role | Focus |
|---|---|---|
| Jacqueline Kolek | Co-president, Peppercomm; managing director, Ruder Finn | Leads the financial and professional services sector and its Team Meridian specialty issues and crisis group |
| Maggie O'Neill | Co-president, Peppercomm; managing director, Ruder Finn | Formerly chief client officer; oversees finance, operations and new business |
| Steve Cody | Founder, Peppercomm; senior advisor, Ruder Finn | Industry connection, brand building and thought leadership; elected to the Museum of Public Relations Board of Trustees in July 2026 |
| Clayton Fletcher | Chief Comedy Officer | Title listed on Peppercomm's website; joined Cody on a SiriusXM program about workplace humor |
What does Peppercomm do?
The firm lists the following as its core services:
- Corporate reputation and corporate communications
- Crisis and issues management, including its Team Meridian specialty group
- B2B and financial services communications
- Brand storytelling and integrated marketing
- Comedy-based training and workshops for employees and clients
EPR's corporate communications and crisis PR sections cover these disciplines, and the top crisis PR firms and top financial services PR agencies rankings compare Peppercomm with peers.
Which clients has Peppercomm worked with?
Peppercomm's 2024 announcement of its Crain's ranking listed three recent client wins: Outback Steakhouse, Lehigh University and Octaura, an electronic trading, data and analytics platform for syndicated loans. Octaura's own press materials also name Peppercomm as the media contact. The firm was also honored for its work on Dole Packaged Foods and Japanese Green Tea in 2024 award programs.
These are firm-reported appointments and campaign credits. They document that work happened, not whether each engagement is still active today, so buyers should ask the agency for current references.
Why is Peppercomm known for humor?
Humor is built into how the firm operates. Peppercomm's website says stand-up comedy training is part of staff onboarding, and it lists a Chief Comedy Officer. When Crain's New York Business named Peppercomm the top workplace in New York City in 2012, it reported that everyone at the firm is, in effect, a comedian, and it described an optional year-long writing program called All Write Now that taught staff skills such as writing a press release and crafting a pitch.
The same thinking is sold to clients. Peppercomm offers comedy-based workshops to help companies improve communication, engagement and storytelling, and it has promoted a fireside chat on communications, reputation and stakeholder trust ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. In its own words, the firm takes its work and its clients seriously, but never itself.
What awards has Peppercomm won?
| Year | Recognition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Ranked first on Crain's New York Business list of Best Places to Work in NYC | Crain's New York Business, December 3, 2012 |
| 2023 | Ranked 27th on Crain's Best Places to Work in NYC | Peppercomm announcement |
| 2024 | Ranked 8th on Crain's Best Places to Work in NYC, described by the firm as its fifth appearance and fourth year in a row | Peppercomm release via Agility PR |
| 2024 | Bulldog PR Awards and SABRE Awards North America recognition for Dole Packaged Foods and Japanese Green Tea | Peppercomm release |
The firm also says it has been named to the PRNews Agency Elite 100 and PR Daily's Top Agencies lists. These are firm-reported honors, so check the awarding bodies for the exact years and categories.
What is the latest Peppercomm news?
| Date | News | Source |
|---|---|---|
| July 6, 2026 | Steve Cody, founder of Peppercomm and senior advisor at Ruder Finn, elected to the Museum of Public Relations Board of Trustees | Ruder Finn via PR Newswire |
| July 21, 2025 | Peppercomm marks 30 years | Peppercomm |
| March 6, 2025 | Kolek and O'Neill named co-presidents; Cody becomes senior executive advisor | O'Dwyer's |
| September 2024 | Named No. 8 on Crain's Best Places to Work in NYC, alongside wins for Outback Steakhouse, Lehigh University and Octaura | Agility PR |
| March 31, 2022 | Ruder Finn acquires Peppercomm | Ruder Finn and Peppercomm announcement |
EPR updates this table when Peppercomm or Ruder Finn announces a leadership change, client win or award.
How does Peppercomm compare with other agencies?
Peppercomm is owned by Ruder Finn, so the closest comparisons are inside the Ruder Finn group and among New York independents.
| Firm | Relationship to Peppercomm | EPR profile |
|---|---|---|
| Ruder Finn | Parent company since March 2022 | Ruder Finn |
| Touchdown PR | Another firm acquired by Ruder Finn | Touchdown PR |
| New York PR firms | Local competitors for corporate and financial clients | Best Public Relations Firms in New York |
For the wider market, see EPR's PR agency profiles directory and PR firm rankings.
Related: PR agency profiles, PR leaders, Ruder Finn, Corporate communications, 5W, a PR, creative and AI Visibility agency
Peppercomm: New York Humor-Led Communications Profile FAQ
Who owns Peppercomm?
Ruder Finn acquired Peppercomm on March 31, 2022. Peppercomm kept its brand and its offices in New York, San Francisco and London.
Who leads Peppercomm?
Jacqueline Kolek and Maggie O'Neill have been co-presidents since March 2025. Steve Cody founded the firm in 1995 and is now a senior advisor at Ruder Finn.
When was Peppercomm founded?
Peppercomm was founded in 1995 in New York. The firm marked its 30th anniversary on July 21, 2025.
Where is Peppercomm headquartered?
New York City, with offices in San Francisco and London.
Why is Peppercomm known for comedy?
Founder Steve Cody is a stand-up comedian, the firm trains staff in stand-up as part of onboarding, and it runs comedy-based workshops for clients.
Which clients has Peppercomm won recently?
The firm's 2024 announcement named Outback Steakhouse, Lehigh University and Octaura as new clients. Treat firm-reported wins as appointments, not proof of current status.
How big is Peppercomm?
O'Dwyer's reported $9.2 million in 2021 fee income and ranked it 58th when the Ruder Finn deal was announced.
What happened to Steve Cody?
Cody became senior executive advisor at Ruder Finn in March 2025 while remaining Peppercomm's founder. In July 2026 he was elected to the Museum of Public Relations Board of Trustees. Sources: Peppercomm announcements and website, Ruder Finn, PR Newswire, O'Dwyer's, Agility PR and Crain's New York Business. Editorial assessment by Everything-PR based on public record, with no firm-supplied marketing copy and no paid placement.
Editorial assessment by Everything-PR, based on public record and archive coverage. No firm-supplied marketing copy, no paid placement.
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