Vested has acquired Watermark, a Washington, D.C.-based public affairs and special situations firm, expanding its capabilities at the intersection of financial services communications, government policy, regulation, and reputation management.
The deal brings Watermark’s public affairs, regulatory communications, crisis response, and investor relations capabilities directly into Vested’s platform while expanding its Washington presence.
Watermark founder Zack Condry will join Vested as Head of Public Affairs and Special Situations and will lead the newly formalized practice.
Condry has worked in Washington for more than 20 years and has relationships spanning all three branches of the U.S. government.
The broader Watermark team will also join Vested, adding experience around risk management, compliance, corporate governance, crisis response, and regulatory issues involving agencies including the SEC, FTC, and CFPB.
Vested sees increasing demand from financial institutions for communications strategies that simultaneously address regulators, policymakers, investors, customers, and the media.
Watermark’s current clients include major global brands with a combined market capitalization of approximately $3.1 trillion.
Its work spans public and government affairs, crisis situations, IPOs, transactions, investor relations, and regulatory advisory services. Condry has also advised nearly 10% of the current Fortune 100 and approximately 5% of the Fortune 500.
KEY QUOTES:
“Financial services companies today are experiencing an increasingly complex regulatory environment and more reputational risk variables than ever before. Our clients are managing headlines while also navigating regulators, investors, and policymakers, often on the same issue. That’s exactly the gap Zack and his team fill.”
Amber Roberts, U.S. CEO of Vested
“Watermark’s work in public affairs and issues management puts us in the middle of some of the highest-stakes moments a company faces, and joining Vested means our team gets to do that at scale, for the biggest brands in financial services.”
Zack Condry, Founder of Watermark and Head of Public Affairs and Special Situations at Vested
