Our Team
Our team of highly experienced practitioners handles work from start to finish, with no dilution, leveraged by exceptional technology.
Our expanding footprint spans the U.S., Canada, the U.K., the E.U., Singapore, and Latin America.
Schedule a conversation with a Stillpoint partner.
Dan McDonald
Dan is a seasoned communications strategist and C-suite advisor with over 18 years of experience leading corporate narrative, crisis management, and AI-focused transformation efforts across global organizations and high-growth startups.
Dan McDonald
Head of Corporate Reputation 🇺🇸
Dan is a communications strategist and C-suite counselor with more than 18 years of experience across corporate affairs, crisis management, and political campaigns.
He brings deep experience from leading Highland Communication, a corporate affairs consultancy focused on corporate narrative, executive visibility, and high-stakes communications—particularly around AI transformation and deployment. He advises leaders on operationalizing AI for communications work, from strategy to execution, and supports organizations navigating AI messaging and change management.
Previously, Dan served as Vice President of Communications at N2, an AI startup in fintech, focused on positioning, narrative development, crisis preparedness, and government affairs.
Before Trete, Dan was Chief Quality Officer and Global Client Advisor at Edelman, leading and advising global clients — including four years as global lead for FedEx and senior roles supporting Allstate, Starbucks, PayPal, and Nationwide. His work spanned corporate and transformation narratives, global media campaigns, executive visibility and thought leadership, market entries and exits, M&A communications, and crisis response across complex, fast-moving situations.
Executives he has counseled and supported have appeared in outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, 60 Minutes, Reuters, and The Washington Post, and at forums including Times DealBook, Bloomberg Year Ahead, Money20/20, and the Aspen Institute. Dan began his career in journalism and politics and holds a journalism degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign.
Career Snapshot
Highland Communications – Managing Director
Trete – Vice President of Communications
Edelman – Chief Quality Officer & Global Client Advisor
Congress & Political Campaigns – Campaign Manager; Communications Staff
Specialties
Corporate narrative and executive positioning
High-stakes communications and crisis preparedness
AI transformation, enablement, and communications operations
Change management and internal communications
M&A, transformation, and reputation strategy
Public affairs and Congressional engagement