Michael Russell

Michael Russell offers clients a highly diversified background in strategic communications and leads Pierpont's investor relations practice. Russell has provided senior counsel to corporate executives of public companies ranging in size from the Fortune 500 to micro caps. In addition to investor relations, Russell's professional credentials include extensive work in public relations, marketing communications, issues management and crisis communications. His professional tenure includes more than two decades of experience working with global leaders in a number of industries including oil and gas exploration and production, natural gas and liquids pipelines, oilfield services, technology, telecommunications, insurance, manufacturing and restaurants.

Prior to joining Pierpont, Russell was managing principal of StreetSmart Company, an Austin-based strategic communications firm specializing in investor relations. StreetSmart provided IR and communications services based on research and market intelligence, from which communications programs were developed and implemented to broaden audience reach, increase awareness, enhance market perceptions and improve company performance.

Prior to StreetSmart, Russell served as senior director of investor relations and strategic communications for Austin-based VTEL Corporation, a pioneer and leader in providing interactive videoconferencing and video webcasts. Upon joining VTEL in 1998 to head the company's investor relations department, Russell soon was put in charge of the company's entire communications effort, including industry analyst and media relations, marketing communications, advertising and the company's website. While directing the company's investor relations, Russell's targeting and outreach strategy more than doubled the company's market capitalization and trading volume as well as increased sell-side analyst coverage.

Prior to joining VTEL, Russell was vice president and officer of Houston-based Churchill Group, Inc., a full-service agency known for its strategic communications, investor relations and crisis communications services. Over a five-year period, Russell helped quadruple the firm's size by expanding the company's scope of operations and securing blue-chip clients. During his tenure with Churchill Group, Russell managed investor relations accounts for Dresser Industries, Weatherford International, TransTexas Gas, Tenneco Energy, Rock Bottom Restaurants, Powell Industries, Stewart Information Services, HomeUSA and others.

Russell is president of the National Investor Relations Institute's (NIRI) Austin-San Antonio Chapter, is an accredited member (APR) of Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and a director for The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas. He has won numerous professional awards for his writing and production of annual reports, executive speeches and marketing collateral from PRSA, International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) and Business Marketing Association (BMA).

Russell holds a master's degree in communication from the University of Houston and a bachelor's degree in accounting from Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Upon completion of his master's thesis, the U of H School of Communication named Russell Outstanding Graduate Student. Russell ultimately published his master's thesis in the Journal of Public Relations Research in 1995.

To contact Mike, click here.