Dan McDermott is the Founder of VL Communications, a strategic communications firm built on a “skin-in-the-game” philosophy that directly aligns the firm’s success with successful client outcomes.

A recognized expert in shareholder activism, Dan serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania Carey School of Law. His premier course on shareholder activism, hostile M&A, and board disputes is nationally recognized as the leading academic offering in its field.

Prior to launching VL Communications, Dan spent eight years as a senior member of ICR’s Special Situations and Shareholder Advisory Group. In this role, he developed and executed critical communications plans for shareholder activism, high-stakes litigation, short-selling defense, corporate governance, ESG initiatives, and other crisis-related events.

Dan’s deep industry expertise is anchored by his previous roles at Involved Consulting, a boutique shareholder activism advisory firm, and Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS). At ISS, he served as a Senior Analyst—one of only four professionals globally tasked with evaluating and rendering vote recommendations on complex proxy contests, contested mergers, and executive compensation for major institutional clients.

Dan holds a B.A. in Political Science from Fordham University and an M.B.A. in Finance from Johns Hopkins University. He also earned the Sustainable Accounting Standards Board (SASB) Fundamentals in Sustainability Accounting (FSA) Certification, combining traditional financial acumen with modern ESG expertise. Outside of work, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter.