Rachel Chesley

Rachel Chesley provides communications counsel to companies, boards of directors, lenders, creditors and buyers as they prepare for, execute and emerge from financial restructuring or reorganization, as well as other moments of transformation and change. Ms. Chesley leads the restructuring communications offering, providing support to clients in transactions, restructurings and strategic alternatives processes. In these cases, strategic planning and communications tactics are used to frame the client’s actions within the context of its stated goals, ensuring that messages reach stakeholders to preserve value and maintain business continuity.

Ms. Chesley frequently leads complex mandates involving international operations, workforce reductions, litigation, and transactions executed through a 363 sale process. Notable engagements include LATAM Airlines, GNC, McClatchy, and TPC Group. She regularly serves as an on-the-record media spokesperson for her clients.

Outside of restructuring, Ms. Chesley has led strategic transactions, merger integration processes, planned and unplanned executive transitions, significant workforce reductions and issues management for a wide array of companies across sectors.

Previously, Ms. Chesley was an Associate at a boutique crisis communications firm, where she worked on restructuring, crisis management and litigation support. Before joining the Communications field, Ms. Chesley served as a 2011 Teach For America corps member in Newark, NJ. She holds a B.A. in English and Political Science from Dickinson College.

Ms. Chesley serves as the Co-Chair of the International Women’s Insolvency & Restructuring Confederation New York Chapter. She was the 2018 recipient of PR Week’s Outstanding Young Professional Award, was named a 2020 Rising Star of the Profession by Consulting Magazine and was honored as an “Emerging Leader” by The M&A Advisor in 2021. Business Insider named Ms. Chesley to its list of 15 Top Financial Public Relations Experts.