About Key Message
Key Message provides senior-level communications counsel in high-stakes situations where every word and every action counts. We help companies build, manage, and protect their reputations. At the core of all our work is the development of credible key messages and communications materials tailored to address the needs of your most important audiences.
About Our Principal
Jeremy Jacobs founded Key Message in 2024 after over 20 years at leading public relations firms. During his career, he has provided strategic communications counsel to C-suite executives and corporate directors in time-sensitive, high-stakes situations where every word and every action matters. He has helped hundreds of companies across industries and borders communicate both friendly and hostile M&A transactions.
Jeremy has extensive experience advising companies on engagement with shareholder activists, from activism preparation to intense proxy contests. He has also advised company founders and founding family members on campaigns for boardroom change. As a recognized expert, Jeremy has been invited to speak on activism panels in New York, Paris, Tokyo, Austin, New Orleans, and online. Jeremy also helps companies manage crisis communications, build and protect their corporate reputation, and develop effective thought leadership programs.
He began his communications career at leading M&A specialist Joele Frank, Wilkinson Brimmer Katcher, shortly after that firm’s founding in 2000. After ten years at Joele Frank, he joined FleishmanHillard, one of the world’s largest integrated communications agencies, supporting transaction communications for industry sector teams. Most recently, Jeremy led projects and teams as part of the M&A and Activism practice at H/Advisors Abernathy (formerly Abernathy MacGregor). He also oversaw that firm’s thought piece program, editing and guiding development of 20–30 articles each year.
Before embarking on a career in strategic and financial communications, Jeremy taught English literature and writing at the University of Pittsburgh and served as the assistant editor for College Communication and Composition, the leading scholarly journal for the study of composition. He received his bachelor’s degree in English from Duke University and his masters (with honors) from the University of Pittsburgh (PhD ABD in Critical and Cultural Studies).
In earlier days, Jeremy interned at the investment bank Donaldson, Lukfin & Jenrette, worked as a paralegal at one New York law firm, and served as the interim systems administrator at another. Despite that, he’s not interested in building you a financial model, transcribing a deposition, or debugging your network connection.
Jeremy lives in a historic rowhouse in Washington, D.C.’s Logan Circle neighborhood with his wife, an aspiring novelist, their son, an aspiring illustrator, and three cats, who aspire to get fed earlier and earlier every morning. He is active at Temple Sinai of DC, serves as the attentive steward of a well-trafficked Little Free Library, and is a voracious reader. Jeremy enjoys museuming, travel, outdoor cooking, jigsaw and crossword puzzles, video and strategy games, and watching college basketball.
