Highwire and The Bliss Group Join Forces to Create a Modern Marketing and Communications Partner for New, High-Growing Organizations.
New York, NY – January 14, 2026 – Highwire, the leading digital marketing communications agency, today announced that it has acquired Bliss Group, an insight-driven PR and marketing firm, to create a modern agency designed to connect marketing and communications strategies to business results at scale and accelerate industry demands.
As two of the fastest-growing market leaders, the combined agency offers clients a smart, fast, and integrated approach to influence building reputation, demand, and growth. Backed by top talent, an AI-forward technology stack, and hard-earned industry partnerships, Highwire helps market-shaping brands lead with clarity and confidence.
“Bringing Highwire and Bliss together answers the need for partners who can turn complexity into competitive advantage, and innovation into measurable impact,” said Michael O’Brien, CEO of Highwire. “Clients want sharp thinking, integrated operations, and partners who move as fast as their business demands. The combined strengths of our agency will deliver that seamlessly to clients’ current and future partners.”
Bliss CEO Cortney Stapleton will step into the newly created role of Chief Strategy and Business Officer at Highwire. You will lead operational and go-to-market strategies across Highwire’s divisions, with a clear focus on delivering results with the greatest customer impact. He will also serve on Highwire’s Board of Directors.
“Highwire and Bliss are built on shared foundations of deep industry understanding, loyal customer partnerships, and belief in the power of storytelling to drive real business results,” said Cortney Stapleton. “By bringing our teams and our skills together, we’re building something bigger and bolder: a platform where our customers get more value, our people have more opportunities, and our work has an even bigger impact.”
With Highwire Health, Highwire and Bliss combine their healthcare practices and Bliss Bio Health into a single, integrated offering that includes consumer health, digital health, healthcare delivery, life sciences, and medtech. Highwire Health is designed for organizations working at the intersection of technology, ethics, and patient impact, where transparency, reliability, and accuracy are critical. Michael Roth, managing partner of Bliss, will assume the role of General Counsel and Executive Chairman of Highwire Health.
The combined firm includes more than 250 professionals across North America, with skills designed to support the full customer journey, including:
- Strategy, positioning, and product narrative development
- Integrated marketing, social media, demand generation, and full funnel activation
- Strategic communication, media relations, and manager visibility
- Insight-led, AI-powered intelligence and analytics
- Creative concept of complete service and production
- Business reputation, issues and problems, and superior communication support
This integration reflects the growing need for partners who can connect insight to action and reputation for growth in an increasingly fragmented environment. Highwire was built for this era. One where companies must communicate with confidence, act with purpose, and turn innovation into impact.
GP Bullhound acted as exclusive financial advisor to Bliss.
About Highwire
Highwire is a strategic communications agency built to help organizations lead through change. We operate at the intersection of innovation and industry, bringing deep industry expertise, cutting-edge capabilities, and superior judgment to shape reputation, demand, and competitive advantage. Our insight-led, AI-powered approach helps clients turn innovation into impact, and drive measurable business results. Highwire received a strategic investment from Shamrock Capital (“Shamrock”), a Los Angeles-based investment firm specializing in the media, entertainment, communications and related sectors in 2022.
For more information, visit teamhighwire.com
