Sharon Merrill Advisors Announces ImpACT Playbook, a Strategic Communications and Engagement Offering to Amplify an Organization’s ESG Impact

Suite of Proven Stakeholder Communications and Engagement Strategies to Assess, Communicate and Transform Environmental, Social & Governance Programs

Sharon Merrill Advisors, a strategic communications and investor relations firm, today launched ImpACT Playbook^SM, a comprehensive suite of sustainability communications and engagement tools designed to Assess, Communicate and Transform (“ACT”) environmental, social and governance (ESG) practices and create lasting stakeholder value.

“A company’s sustainability strategy should be synonymous with risk mitigation and value creation,” said Maureen Wolff, Chief Executive Officer. “When environmental, social and governance matters are managed and communicated strategically, transparently and proactively, they can serve as an important business driver, competitive differentiator, and talent attractor. We understand how climate risk, employee engagement and sound governance are critical components of a corporate strategy and know how to guide clients through the complex process of identifying, articulating and disclosing these strategies.”

ImpACT Playbook takes the friction out of advancing an ESG program by establishing clear objectives for clients’ sustainability programs, driving informed decision-making, prioritizing ESG initiatives and effectively presenting these efforts to internal and external audiences. The offering includes strategies and counsel to ASSESS an organization’s ESG program and develop a scalable foundation, COMMUNICATE and disclose the organization’s unique ESG story, and TRANSFORM the impact of the program through proactive stakeholder engagement.

“With ImpACT Playbook^SM we support clients at every stage of their sustainability journey,” said Ryan Flaim, Senior Vice President and head of SMA’s Sustainability practice. “Whether you are just starting out, or have an established program, our scalable solutions alleviate feeling overwhelmed, clarify where and how to start, and ensure a high ROI for your efforts. Ultimately, amplifying the impact of your program will build long-term resilience, enhance investor appeal, and drive brand value, customer loyalty and employee retention.”

ImpACT Playbook^SM Key Service Areas

With nearly four decades of experience in the field of investor relations and strategic communications, Sharon Merrill Advisors combines communications expertise with a keen understanding of ESG disclosure strategies, capital markets, sound governance, stakeholder engagement, SEC regulations and all things sustainability. SMA offers hands-on program execution, as well as strategic counsel on best practices in ESG, real-world success stories and emerging trends. Core offerings include:

ASSESS: Foundation & Strategy – program evaluation to understand the most important environmental, social & governance drivers to an organization’s business, identify risks and opportunities, and build a scalable sustainability foundation.

• Materiality assessments
• Peer benchmarking & gap analysis
• Framework & standards counsel
• Sustainability ratings assessments
• Sustainability journey mapping
• Proxy voting analysis
• Ongoing strategic advisory
• Board/executive sustainability briefings
• Program evaluation
• Sustainability journey map counsel

COMMUNICATE: Integrated Storytelling & Disclosures – dynamic content and communications strategies that connect with stakeholders while meeting evolving disclosure requirements.

• Integrated multi-stakeholder communications planning
• Sustainability narrative and messaging platform
• Sustainability reports, fact sheets & profiles
• Reporting framework disclosure matrixes
• Sustainability websites

TRANSFORM: Stakeholder Engagement – strategies for proactively engaging with stakeholders to stay ahead of stakeholder priorities and generate feedback to enhance plan and actions.

• Investor targeting & profiling
• ESG roadshow & sustainability day execution
• Proxy/stewardship team engagement
• Ratings agency engagement
• Employee engagement strategies
• Customer and procurement team communications