Smart in Public The Art of the Deal: PR Agency Edition w/ Highwire's Michael O'Brien & Cortney Stapleton
Mar 6, 2026
45:46
This week, the Katies sit down with Michael O’Brien, CEO of Highwire, and Cortney Stapleton, Chief Strategy & Business Officer at Highwire (and former CEO of The Bliss Group), to unpack what really happens when PR agencies merge.
We go behind the January acquisition of The Bliss Group by Highwire and explore:
- Why agency consolidation doesn’t mean the agency model is dying
- How they managed talent through the transition (and avoided the typical post-acquisition talent exodus)
- What clients cared about most during this kind of change
- How AI and technology are reshaping PR work, tech stacks, and junior roles
- What the agency of the future looks like — from mid-sized independents to global behemoths
If you’re an agency leader, an in-house comms pro, or a junior practitioner wondering what an acquisition means for your job (and your career), this conversation is a candid, practical look at the future of PR agencies.
Chapters
- 00:00 - Introduction to the Future of PR Agencies
- 01:19 - The Acquisition Journey: Insights from Highwire and Bliss Group
- 06:26 - Cultural Integration and Team Dynamics Post-Acquisition
- 08:42 - Managing Talent During Transitions: Transparency is Key
- 14:56 - Client Reactions and Expectations During Acquisitions
- 20:39 - The State of the Agency Model: Myths and Realities
- 23:44 - Navigating the Talent Market in a Changing Landscape
- 23:54 - Navigating Agency Consolidation and Talent Retention
- 27:55 - The Role of AI in Agency Innovation
- 34:10 - Future of Agency Landscape and Technology Integration
- 40:44 - Evolving Roles and Skills in the Agency World
- 43:40 - Challenges and Opportunities in the Age of AI
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Have a topic or a guest idea? Email us at hello@smartinpublicpod.com