New crisis management firm launches with Mike Smith OAM as first hire
A new integrated reputation and crisis management firm has launched, led by two prominent practitioners in the law and comms space, Mumbrella can reveal.
Providing strategic advice to businesses and organisations navigating complex reputational and crisis challenges, Acumen Advisory is described to deliver unique legal and communications solutions to clients.
The firm is founded and led by former barrister and Victorian Opposition chief of staff, Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez, and veteran communications director Nick Johnston.
Pintos-Lopez has appeared in State and Federal courts across Australia. He is a graduate of Harvard Law School, and has also appeared in the US Federal courts and Supreme Court where he worked for clients including JP Morgan, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, IBM and Time Warner.
Johnston has more than 30 years experience working on both sides of the media, having held roles at The Age, ABC and Nine, as well as senior comms and corporate affairs positions for the AFL, NBL, Basketball Australia, and for various government departments.
Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez and Nick Johnston. Photo by Kristian Gehradte
“We are excited to launch Acumen Advisory and work with businesses and organisations to deliver integrated crisis management advice where there are substantial reputational risks and to help navigate important legal, regulatory, integrity, and inquiry aspects related to the crisis,” said Pintos-Lopez.
Johnston added: “Acumen provides a personalised and tailored service in rapid time to help get the calls right, whether they be legal, media and public relations or managing key stakeholders, so as to not only protect but enhance reputation.”
The pair have also welcomed Mike Smith OAM, one of Australia’s most respected reputation and crisis management experts, as a special adviser.
As the founder of Inside PR, a former editor of Nine’s The Age, and having held various adviser roles to prominent Australians including a Governor-General, Smith brings a wealth of experience to the role.
“I am excited to be working with Acumen Advisory. Rodrigo and Nick bring together decades of experience and offer a unique and one-stop blend of skills for effective crisis management,” Smith said.
“They can manage communications, legal, media, regulatory, corporate and political issues. That is Acumen’s point of difference in this increasingly important field.”
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Lauren McNamara is a journalist at Mumbrella, covering the creative and PR beat. She joined in November 2022 as editorial assistant, after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS.
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topics
Acumen Advisory
crisis
crisis comms
crisis management
Mike Smith
Mike Smith OAM
Nick Johnston
Reputation
Rodrigo Pintos-Lopez
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