TrailRunner Team - TrailRunner International

Jim Wilkinson

Jim Wilkinson serves as Executive Chairman of TrailRunner International.

Prior to founding TrailRunner, Jim served as SVP, Head of International Corporate Affairs for Alibaba Group, the world’s largest online and mobile marketplace. At Alibaba Group, Jim played a key leadership role in the company’s historic IPO in 2014. He also designed and led Alibaba’s international communications strategy, and he built the company’s international corporate communications and government relations teams.

Prior to joining Alibaba Group, Jim served as Executive Vice President, Communications for PepsiCo, a global food and beverage leader with net revenues of more than $65 billion. Jim joined PepsiCo from Brunswick Group, where he served in San Francisco as Managing Partner for International Business and Financial Strategy, providing strategic counsel on global corporate mandates spanning international operations, corporate and financial communications, corporate reputation, investor relations, crisis management, and litigation. Jim also worked for Brunswick Group in Texas, where he established and built the firm’s Dallas/Fort Worth office.

Prior to Brunswick Group, Jim served as Chief of Staff for U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Henry M. Paulson, serving as Paulson’s senior strategist and counselor, and working on matters of financial policy and crisis management. Prior to his work for the Treasury, Jim served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and worked with Rice in The White House at the National Security Council as Deputy National Security Advisor for Communications. From 2002-2003, Jim was Director of Strategic Communications for General Tommy R. Franks at U.S. Central Command, and from 2000-2001 served in the White House as Deputy Assistant to the President and Deputy Director of Communications. Prior to working in the White House, Jim spent several years working in the U.S. Congress for House Majority Leader Dick Armey (R-TX) and the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Jim served as an officer in the U.S. Navy Reserves and taught international communications at The Johns Hopkins University. Jim holds degrees from the University of Texas at Arlington (BBA, Finance), The Johns Hopkins University (MA), and Wheaton College (MA, Biblical Studies and Theology). Jim is also a graduate of the Yale University School of Management Global Executive Leadership Program.

Jim serves as a national board member for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, on the Board of Trustees for The Women’s Sports Foundation, and on the Board of Directors for Headstrong – a national mental health treatment practice of choice for our nation’s military, veterans, and their family members.

Jim is an endurance sports enthusiast and enjoys trail running, playing chess, snowboarding, and playing acoustic guitar. Jim also has a love of aviation and is a commercially rated pilot.

Andy Wambsganss

Andy is a recognized legal expert and international leader with strong relationships in key markets around the world, in Washington, D.C., and at state and local levels throughout the United States.

Andy has extensive legal advisory experience, including serving as counsel for several domestic and international companies. As a senior partner with a leading Texas-based law firm, he has also handled a wide array of domestic and international business litigation matters, including complex financial transactions, mergers and acquisitions, oil and gas transactions, and real estate matters. Andy also has extensive experience in government relations, regulatory and public law issues, and labor/employment disputes.

During his career Mr. Wambsganss has also worked in the executive, legislative and judicial branches of government in Washington, D.C. and in Texas. He has served as Mayor of Southlake, Texas, and as a judge and in other elected and appointed positions over the past two decades. Mr. Wambsganss worked in Washington, D.C. in the 1980’s for U.S. Congressman Dick Armey (R-TX) prior to joining the Second Court of Appeals of Texas in 1991 as a briefing attorney. Following completion of his judicial clerkship with the Court, Mr. Wambsganss joined Brown & Thompson, PC.

EDUCATION

University of Texas–Arlington (B.A.)
University of Texas–Austin (J.D.)

PROFESSIONAL ADMISSIONS

Member, State Bar of Texas
United States Supreme Court
United States Court of International Trade
United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
United States Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims
United States Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces
U.S. District Court, Northern District of Texas
United States District Court, Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas
Pro Bono College of the State Bar of Texas

ACTIVITIES

Member, Tarrant County Bar Foundation
Member, Northeast Leadership Forum
Chairman, Metroport Cities Fellowship
Chairman, AIR Ministries

EXPERIENCE

Federal Bureau of Investigation, Legal Counsel Division
Mayor, Southlake, Texas
Mayor Pro Tem, Southlake, Texas
City Council, Southlake, Texas
Judge, Southlake, Texas
President, Southlake Crime Control & Prevention District
Ripon Scholar, Washington D.C.
Second Court of Appeals, Texas

Brendan Lahiff

Brendan Lahiff is a Director at TrailRunner International, focusing on financial communications for global clients in finance, manufacturing, fintech, and other sectors. Brendan brings over 20 years of experience spanning investor relations and financial communications, corporate communications, securities regulation compliance, market surveillance and global custody/corporate actions.

Prior to TrailRunner International, Brendan spent eight years performing the investor relations functions for semiconductor companies, co-managing the investor relations function for SanDisk Corp., a Western Digital Corporation company, and leading the investor relations function for Intersil Corporation, a Renesas Electronics Corporation company. Prior to working with semiconductor companies, Brendan spent eight years at communications agencies including Financial Dynamics, an FTI Consulting firm Inc. company and Lippert / Heilshorn and Associates Inc., servicing a wide variety of clients and market capitalizations across the technology and telecommunications, consumer, healthcare and life sciences, industrial and energy, and financial services industries. Brendan began his career at Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., conducting global custody and corporate actions.

Brendan holds degrees from the University of Scranton in Pennsylvania (BS, Finance and Minors in Economics and English) and the University of San Francisco (MBA). He lives in Colorado with his wife Lorinda and daughter Keira, and enjoys spending time outdoors with his family snowboarding, mountain biking, running and hiking.

Matthieu Bao

Matthieu Bao serves as Finance Manager at TrailRunner International’s Shanghai office.

Matthieu has spent more than 11 years in accounting and taxation in China. Prior to joining TrailRunner, Matthieu managed accounting and human resource communications for T&G Global, including supervising PWC accounting reports and monthly tax declarations, as well as helping implement various other systems there.

Before joining T&G Global, Matthieu served as Accounting and HR Manager for Deret Logistique Asie, where he implemented communications programs for setting up new branches, which involved taxation policy matters with Mazars.

Matthieu holds a degree from China University of Mining and Technology (BA, Accounting), and his hobbies include jogging, reading, and being active outdoors.

Bryan Brush

Bryan Brush is an Associate based in TrailRunner International’s New York office. Prior to becoming an Associate, Bryan completed the firm’s internship program and then was named an Analyst in 2023.

Before joining TrailRunner International, Bryan interned for Royal Caribbean International, the global cruise line, and the London Lions, a professional basketball team in London, England.

Bryan graduated from S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University with a Bachelor of Science in public relations. During his time at Syracuse, he wrote for the sports section of The Daily Orange, the student newspaper. He also served as an Account Supervisor at Hill Communications, the student-run public relations firm.

In his free time, Bryan enjoys playing tennis, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.

Yuanyuan Yu

Yuanyuan serves as a HR Manager at TrailRunner International’s Shanghai office.

She plays a central role in supporting the office’s operations, leading recruitment, personnel placement, benefits, and compliance.
Prior to joining TrailRunner, Yuanyuan worked as a senior consultant for an educational consulting company. Her responsibilities included offering strategic advice and support services to Chinese students and working with US universities on placement. During her three-year tenure, she established an efficient human resource system at the company. Previously, Yuanyuan worked at Siemens, liaising with personnel on organizational behavior and career development.

She graduated from the University of Oregon majoring in business administration with a concentration in finance. In her free time Yuanyuan enjoys traveling with her family and friends.

Johanna Hoopes

Johanna Hoopes is a Managing Director for TrailRunner International and head of the firm’s Nashville office. Johanna is a seasoned global communicator with 20 years of experience in corporate positioning and reputation building, media relations, crisis communications, cross-border transactions, stakeholder engagement, and broader storytelling. She advises a wide range of clients from multinational corporations to high-growth startups.

Before joining TrailRunner International, Johanna spent a decade building Dragon Media, a Shanghai-based public relations firm serving Fortune 500 companies in China. Johanna has an extensive network across Asia, having produced major events, press conferences, brand launches, and executive tours for CEOs, professional athletes, and celebrities.

Prior to founding Dragon Media, Johanna worked as a journalist for Forbes China and as a senior editor at City Weekend Shanghai, covering business, travel, technology, sports, and real estate. She also worked as a business director at Jack Morton Worldwide, creating brand experiences for some of the world’s most iconic companies in the automotive, sports, and technology sectors.

Johanna received her International MBA from the Moore School at the University of South Carolina where she completed an exchange year at Fudan University in Shanghai. She received her Bachelor of Arts in international relations and economics with minors in Spanish and anthropology from Boston University. Johanna is proficient in Mandarin, Spanish, and French.

Ayania Wellington

Ayania Wellington is a Director based in TrailRunner International’s New York office, where she advises clients across a broad range of industries on corporate and financial communications, executive positioning, media relations, brand building, and crisis preparedness and response. She has worked on high-stakes special situations such as SPAC mergers, M&A transactions, and fund closings. Ayania has also served as co-head of the Diversity Committee, helping ensure that inclusion remains central to TrailRunner International’s culture and mission.

Ayania joined TrailRunner International as an Analyst in 2020 and was promoted to Associate in 2023.

Prior to joining TrailRunner International, Ayania spent five years at the Kaplan Educational Foundation as Communications Manager and Academic Advisor, where she managed internal and external communications, including website content, social media, press inquiries, and communications for various publications. She also coached students and assisted them with scholarships, financial aid, the admissions process, and leadership growth paths for their desired field. Early in her career, she worked as a freelance journalist for a local Brooklyn newspaper.

Ayania holds a Bachelor of Science degree in broadcast and digital journalism and African American studies from Syracuse University. Outside of work, Ayania enjoys discovering restaurants around the world to create content for her food blog and spending time with her daughter, Atlas, and her dog, Astro.

Georgia Walker

Georgia Walker is a Managing Director for TrailRunner International and head of the firm’s London office. Georgia advises clients across borders, helping them navigate complex situations such as geopolitical risks, trade frictions, M&A transactions, and global reputation management. Georgia, who joined TrailRunner International’s New York office in 2018, has more than 12 years of experience serving clients on matters of corporate reputation, financial communications (IPOs, earnings, etc.), executive positioning, international strategy, and crisis preparedness and response.

Prior to TrailRunner International, Georgia worked for leading digital research firm eMarketer, where she supported Fortune 100 clients in their digital services transformations. Georgia previously worked for Burson on a diverse portfolio of clients across the financial services, automotive, retail, and entertainment industries, specializing in corporate and financial communications. Prior to Burson, Georgia worked for NBC News, coordinating and promoting stories from The Today Show, Meet the Press, and Nightly News with Brian Williams to affiliate news stations across the country.

Georgia graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill with a Bachelor of Arts in broadcast journalism and political science and a minor in Arabic. Georgia studied in Amman, Jordan, and has a passion for international affairs, exploring London’s countless green spaces, traveling, and spending time outdoors.

Eric Bormann

Eric Bormann is a Managing Director at TrailRunner International and head of the firm’s headquarters in Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas. Part of TrailRunner International’s founding team, Eric has taken on many important development and leadership roles including establishing the Analyst Program, a formal and rigorous development program for new Analysts, and creating the firm’s knowledge management system. He serves clients globally on international crisis management and strategy, corporate restructuring, reputation management, development of corporate strategy and narratives, and media relations. This experience covers a broad range of industries and organizations including finance, technology, sports, agriculture, manufacturing, healthcare, non-profits, and associations.

Before joining TrailRunner International, Eric worked in the financial services industry, specializing in banking, financial services, analytics, and client relations. Prior to his financial services work, Eric spent twelve years teaching mathematics and coaching a variety of sports, including four years as a varsity football head coach.

Eric received a Bachelor of Arts in mathematics from Coe College and a master’s degree in education leadership at Drake University. Eric was a collegiate athlete at Coe College where he played on the offensive line for the school’s nationally ranked football team. He enjoys spending time with his wife, Marne, and four kids, Cade, Ellie, Mason, and Hadley.

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