TrailRunner International
TrailRunner International is a global strategic communications advisory firm serving Fortune 500 enterprises, institutions, and sports entities across financial, crisis, corporate, litigation, and government relations mandates from eleven offices in the U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2016
- HeadquartersSouthlake, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What TrailRunner International does
TrailRunner International is a global strategic communications advisory firm founded in 2016 by Jim Wilkinson, former SVP at Alibaba Group. The firm delivers eight integrated service lines — financial communications and special situations, corporate communications, litigation communications, crisis communications, corporate and executive reputation, government relations, digital/creative, and advertising/polling/message testing — through a senior-led advisory model targeting Fortune 500 enterprises, global institutions, and individuals facing complex, multi-jurisdictional communications mandates. Its client roster spans landmark engagements such as Alibaba's 2014 IPO and ongoing relationships with Boston Red Sox, NEC Conference member institutions, and a broad base of unnamed enterprise clients. Revenue is generated entirely through customized professional advisory fees; no proprietary technology platform, software product, or subscription offering is disclosed.
The firm operates from 11 owned offices across the United States (Southlake/Texas headquarters, New York, Nashville, Boston, Washington D.C., San Francisco, Truckee), Europe (London), the Middle East (Abu Dhabi, Dubai), and Asia (Shanghai), enabling cross-border delivery of integrated strategy, media, legal, financial, and regulatory counsel. In 2023, TrailRunner launched TrailRunner Sports as a joint venture with Legends, creating a dedicated vertical serving professional leagues, collegiate conferences, teams, universities, ownership groups, and brands with stakeholder management, media rights strategy, crisis communications, and digital advisory services. In January 2025, TrailRunner was acquired by Public Policy Holding Company (PPHC), a public communications holding company that reported consolidated revenue of $187 million in 2025 (25% growth) and $149.6 million in 2024.
The firm operates without disclosed funding rounds, patents, or proprietary technology, relying instead on the reputation and network of its leadership bench — which includes former U.S. Treasury Chief of Staff, White House Communications Directors, Pulitzer and DuPont Award-winning journalists, and senior operators from Alibaba, PepsiCo, Brunswick, Edelman, Stanford Athletics, Uber, and Pac-12 Networks — to win enterprise mandates. Distribution is direct and relationship-driven, with marketing conducted primarily through LinkedIn, Instagram, the corporate website, and a BambooHR-powered career portal.
TrailRunner International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- TrailRunner International
- Legal name
- TrailRunner International
- Website
- https://trailrunnerint.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2016
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- TrailRunner International is a global strategic communications advisory firm serving Fortune 500 enterprises, institutions, and sports entities across financial, crisis, corporate, litigation, and government relations mandates from eleven offices in the U.S., Europe, Middle East, and Asia.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where TrailRunner International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Southlake
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices11 records
Markets served
TrailRunner International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Strategic Communications Advisory: The firm provides strategic counsel and execution across financial communications, crisis communications, corporate communications, litigation communications, government relations, digital/creative services, and advertising/polling. Revenue is generated through professional advisory fees.
- Sports Advisory Services: TrailRunner Sports provides specialized advisory services for sports entities including stakeholder management, reputation management, media rights strategy, government affairs, crisis communications, and digital strategy.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
TrailRunner International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
TrailRunner International is a global strategic communications advisory firm that delivers senior-led counsel and execution across financial communications, corporate communications, crisis communications, litigation communications, government relations, corporate and executive reputation, digital/creative services, and advertising/polling/message testing. The firm serves Fortune 500 companies, global enterprises, institutions, and individuals through offices across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with a dedicated TrailRunner Sports division serving the global sports industry.
Product overview
TrailRunner International is a global strategic communications advisory firm offering a unified portfolio of professional services rather than a software product. The core offering consists of eight integrated service lines: Financial Communications & Special Situations (covering IPOs, M&A, activism, restructurings), Litigation Communications, Corporate Communications, Corporate and Executive Reputation, Crisis Communications, Government Relations, Digital/Creative, and Advertising/Polling/Message Testing. These services are delivered through the company's global team and offices. TrailRunner Sports operates as a distinct business unit and sub-brand specializing in sports industry advisory, providing sports-specific strategic operations, media rights/content strategy, investor/ownership group advisory, and women's sports focus. The portfolio is architecture-free as a services firm rather than a technology platform.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Financial Communications and Special Situations
- Litigation Communications
- Corporate Communications
- Corporate and Executive Reputation
- Crisis Communications
- Government Relations
- Digital / Creative
- Advertising / Polling / Message Testing
- TrailRunner Sports
Companies that use TrailRunner International
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
TrailRunner International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
TrailRunner International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Two partnerships are on record, tiered flagship and core.
- NEC (North East Conference)flagshipNEC announced partnership with TrailRunner Sports to provide strategic advisory and negotiation services for the Conference's future media rights agreements. TrailRunner Sports will evaluate the sports media landscape, identify potential media partners, and guide development, packaging, and negotiation of NEC's next media rights deals. Collaboration designed to position the NEC and its ten member institutions to maximize value, visibility, and long-term growth of its media portfolio.
- LegendscoreTrailRunner Sports was launched as a joint venture with Legends in 2023. Legends is an experiences company providing planning, sales, and service solutions for sports and entertainment venues. The partnership combines TrailRunner's strategic communications expertise with Legends' operational capabilities to serve sports clients globally.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
TrailRunner International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Edelman: Largest global communications firm offering corporate communications, crisis, financial communications, and public affairs. Directly comparable strategic communications advisory serving Fortune 500 enterprises with global coverage.
- Brunswick Group: Global strategic communications advisory focused on financial communications, M&A, crisis, and shareholder activism. Directly comparable to TrailRunner's core financial and special situations practice; founder Jim Wilkinson previously led Brunswick's international business.
- FGS Global (Finsbury Glover Hering): Global strategic communications advisory serving corporations, boards, and governments on M&A, crisis, IPOs, and shareholder activism. Directly comparable on transaction communications and crisis advisory; Seth Hand previously led Finsbury's Middle East practice.
- Burson (BCW): Major global communications agency offering corporate, financial, crisis, and public affairs. Directly comparable enterprise advisory; multiple TrailRunner leaders (Teresa Henderson, Sarah Grubbs, Zack Kozlak, Georgia Walker, Josephine Martin) joined from Burson.
- Kekst CNC: Strategic communications consultancy advising corporates and investors on M&A, shareholder activism, IPOs, and crisis. Closely comparable in financial communications and special situations work.
- Abernathy MacGregor: Specialist strategic communications advisor focused on M&A, shareholder activism, IPOs, and special situations. Closely comparable to TrailRunner's financial communications and special situations practice.
- Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher: Specialist strategic communications and investor relations advisory serving corporations and investors on M&A, activism, and crisis. Comparable in financial communications and shareholder engagement.
- APCO Worldwide: Global advisory firm specializing in public affairs, communications, and business strategy for corporations and governments. Comparable on integrated government relations and corporate communications; multiple TrailRunner alumni from APCO.
Emerging players
- M Group Strategic Communications: Boutique strategic communications firm focused on financial communications, M&A, activism, and special situations. Comparable niche competitor to TrailRunner's capital markets advisory practice with a smaller footprint.
Broad incumbents
- Ropes & Gray (Communications & Public Affairs advisory): Major law firm whose strategic communications and public affairs practice competes for litigation communications, crisis, and special situations mandates that overlap with TrailRunner's litigation communications practice.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
TrailRunner International social profiles
Digital presenceTrailRunner International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
TrailRunner International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles19 records
TrailRunner International subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries2 records
TrailRunner International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
TrailRunner International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about TrailRunner International
What does TrailRunner International do?
TrailRunner International is a global strategic communications advisory firm that delivers senior-led counsel and execution across financial communications, corporate communications, crisis communications, litigation communications, government relations, corporate and executive reputation, digital/creative services, and advertising/polling/message testing. The firm serves Fortune 500 companies, global enterprises, institutions, and individuals through offices across the U.S., Europe, the Middle East, and Asia, with a dedicated TrailRunner Sports division serving the global sports industry.
Is TrailRunner International a public or private company?
TrailRunner International is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was TrailRunner International founded?
TrailRunner International was founded in 2016. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is TrailRunner International based?
TrailRunner International is headquartered in Southlake, United States, in the North America region.
How does TrailRunner International make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Strategic Communications Advisory is the primary driver. The others are sports Advisory Services.
Who are TrailRunner International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Edelman, Brunswick Group, FGS Global (Finsbury Glover Hering), Burson (BCW), Kekst CNC, Abernathy MacGregor, Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher and APCO Worldwide. M Group Strategic Communications is listed as an emerging player. Ropes & Gray (Communications & Public Affairs advisory) is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does TrailRunner International have an API?
No public API is recorded for TrailRunner International.