IRF

What IRF does

IRF Reputation AG is a privately held Swiss strategic communications consultancy founded in 2002 by Martin Meier-Pfister via an MBO from the Wirz Gruppe, headquartered in Zürich with a Geneva office opened in 2020. The firm provides partner-led advisory services across six practice areas: positioning and transformation, media relations and social media, financial and capital market communications, crisis communication and litigation PR, public affairs, and reputation management. Its stated client base spans listed companies and large corporations, government and public sector entities, and financial institutions, with approximately 40 clients on continuous retainer relationships and 200+ reputation and communication projects completed since founding, including 30 IPOs and capital market transactions.

The firm differentiates through the combination of media relations and capital market expertise under one roof, mixed senior–junior consulting teams that both advise and execute, and direct C-suite engagement. Approximately 17 staff, six partners, and an extended senior advisor bench carry an aggregate of ~300 years of relevant experience, with partners averaging 18 years apiece; senior advisors include individuals with backgrounds in Swiss financial communications leadership and Cantonal government. Revenue is generated exclusively through professional services: project-based mandates plus retainer relationships quoted on a bespoke basis, with no disclosed pricing, software product, or platform offering.

Internationally, IRF operates through a 20+ year strategic partnership with FTI Consulting, under which more than 50 joint mandates have been executed, providing cross-border capital markets and crisis reach while preserving IRF's local Swiss identity. The operating geography is the DACH region (with Swiss national emphasis), and growth has been driven by partner additions, the Geneva office, and incremental service-line development rather than external funding or M&A; the firm is independently owned by its partners with no parent company or institutional investors disclosed.

Name

IRF

Legal name

IRF Reputation AG

Website

https://irf-reputation.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

2002

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

IRF Reputation AG is a Zürich-based Swiss strategic communications consultancy, founded 2002, serving listed companies, public sector, and financial institutions with media relations, capital market communications, crisis advisory, and public affairs across a team of ~17 staff and six partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications Consulting

NAICS

Public Relations Agencies (541820), Public Relations Agencies (54182)

SIC

Services-Management Consulting Services (8742)

akta.pro primary industry

Investor Relations (IR) & Capital Markets Communications (MPAAADAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Investor Relations (IR) Services (BPAFADAC), Corporate & Financial Communications PR (MPAAADAA), Reputation Management & Online PR (BPAFADAN)

Keywords

• Strategic communications consulting
• Financial communications advisory
• Crisis communications services
• Media relations consulting
• Public affairs advisory

Headquarters

HQ city

Zürich

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Strategic Communication Consulting: Project-based consulting engagements and ongoing retainer arrangements for strategic communication, reputation management, crisis communication, media relations, and public affairs services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

IRF Reputation AG is a Swiss strategic communications and reputation management consulting firm that delivers advisory services across five practice areas: positioning and transformation, media relations and social media, financial and capital market communications (IPO, M&A, investor relations), crisis communication and litigation PR, and public affairs. Services are rendered by six partners and approximately 17 staff members and are delivered as project-based mandates or ongoing retainer relationships primarily to listed companies, financial institutions, and public sector clients.

Product overview

IRF Reputation AG is a Swiss strategic communications and reputation management consulting firm. It does not offer a software product or platform; its offering consists entirely of advisory services delivered by a team of consultants. Core service areas include: strategic positioning and transformation (perception analysis, corporate repositioning, change communication), media relations and social media (media work and digital presence management), financial and capital market communications (equity story, IPO and M&A advisory, ongoing investor relations), crisis communication and litigation PR, and public affairs. The firm also provides bespoke consulting services organized around three structural challenges: building reputation, protecting reputation, and realigning/repositioning reputation. Services are rendered by six partners and approximately 17 total staff members with an average of approximately 18 years of relevant professional experience.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Positionierung & Transformation (Positioning and Transformation) Advisory service in which IRF analyzes stakeholder perceptions, sharpens corporate and executive positioning, and accompanies companies through change processes including generational and ownership transitions. Intended for corporate clients and executives needing to reposition their profile, align strategy with capital market expectations, or navigate transformation communications.
• Medienarbeit & Social Media (Media Relations and Social Media) Strategic management of clients' presence in traditional and digital media, including targeted media work, network-based outreach, and social media competence to deliver consistent messaging across all channels. Intended for corporate clients seeking visibility, credibility, and consistent communication with media and digital audiences.
• Finanz- & Kapitalmarktkommunikation (Financial and Capital Market Communications) Advisory service for listed companies covering equity story development, IPO preparation, M&A transaction communications, ongoing investor relations, and capital market stakeholder engagement. Intended for CFOs, CEOs, and IR heads of listed and pre-IPO companies preparing for or managing capital market activities including profit warnings and CEO transitions.
• Krisenkommunikation & Litigation (Crisis Communication and Litigation PR) Strategic communications advisory for organizations in crisis and conflict situations, including cyberattack response, litigation PR, executive spokesperson preparation, and coordinated crisis messaging. Intended for companies and executives facing reputational threats, cyber incidents, or legal disputes requiring coordinated strategic communication.
• Public Affairs Strategic advisory at the interface of business, politics, and regulation, providing industry knowledge, political networks, and stakeholder engagement support. Intended for companies and industry associations navigating regulatory processes, legislative engagement, or political stakeholder management in Switzerland.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30 IPOs and capital market transactions successfully supported since founding
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• FTI ConsultingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2002FTI Consulting is IRF's worldwide network partner, providing extensive experience in successfully executing international mandates. Clients benefit from direct access to specialized expertise and contacts around the globe. FTI Consulting is an independent global advisory firm supporting clients in strategy, organization, and capital market projects, including M&A, IPOs, change management, risk minimization, crisis management, dispute resolution, and public affairs. IRF and FTI have maintained a partnership for over 20 years and have successfully managed more than 50 joint mandates.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• FTI Consulting: Global advisory firm and IRF's worldwide network partner for over 20 years, offering strategic communications, M&A advisory, crisis management, and public affairs. Competes with IRF on Swiss mandates while also serving as IRF's international delivery channel.
• H/Advisors (Havas): Global strategic communications advisory with strong financial communications and IPO advisory capabilities. Competes with IRF for mandates involving listed companies and large international investors.
• Weber Shandwick: Global PR and communications network with significant financial communications and public affairs practices. Competes with IRF on cross-border mandates and brings substantially larger international scale.

Direct peers

• Brunswick Group: Global leader in critical issues and financial communications, advising on M&A, IPOs, crisis, and investor relations. Direct competitor for cross-border mandates involving Swiss listed companies and large-cap financial institutions.
• Kekst CNC: International strategic communications consultancy specializing in M&A, investor relations, crisis, and public affairs. Closely comparable in service mix and target client profile (listed corporates, financial sponsors, and financial institutions).
• Finsbury Glover Hering: Global strategic communications and public affairs firm with strong financial communications and crisis capabilities. Directly competes with IRF for European IPO/M&A mandates and listed-company IR work.
• Hering Schuppener: German strategic communications and financial PR consultancy with a strong DACH focus on IPOs, M&A, and crisis communications. Closely comparable in positioning and client mix to IRF within the German-speaking market.
• Schoeller & von Keudell: Munich-based strategic communications consultancy advising listed companies, financial institutions, and family-owned businesses on reputation, financial communications, and public affairs. Highly comparable in size, scope, and German-speaking market focus.

Regional players

• Hirzel.Neef.Schmid.Counselors: Zurich-based strategic communications and investor relations consultancy serving Swiss listed companies and financial institutions. Most directly comparable Swiss-headquartered competitor to IRF.
• cometis: German investor relations and corporate communications consultancy with a strong mid-cap and SME issuer focus. Comparable in capital markets communications offering and DACH client base, though operating primarily out of Germany rather than Switzerland.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/irf_reputation
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/irf-reputation

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IRF