Damian O'Doherty, a veteran of Maryland's political and public-affairs scenes, has launched O'Doherty & Associates, a new firm focused on helping leaders and institutions adapt to the challenges and opportunities of the AI era. The move marks a departure from KO Public Affairs, the firm he co-founded nearly 20 years ago.
In a statement, O'Doherty explained that after 17 years building KO, "the canvas in public affairs has changed." The new firm aims to guide leaders, institutions, and innovators in gaining "resonance in the AI epoch," combining expertise in law, influence, media, and capital strategy. O'Doherty & Associates operates as a "family of firms" spanning Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Colorado, with a global reach. Its components include a Maryland-based law practice, an Aspen influence and public-affairs agency, and a global capital network. A key offering is Health Counsel, advising healthcare executives on policy and strategy.
O'Doherty's career includes shaping major regional projects, from healthcare advocacy and infrastructure expansion to economic development around the Port of Baltimore and the D.C. Beltway. He was an early investor in MGM National Harbor and a driving force behind affordable housing initiatives for firefighters in Aspen. His pivot reflects a recognition that today's public-affairs landscape demands "new tools, sharper instincts, and a broader canvas," as he put it.
"The boxing gloves that built KO don't fit what's next," O'Doherty said, emphasizing the need for firms to be "fit to fight for a new future." The launch of O'Doherty & Associates signals a strategic shift toward integrating artificial intelligence with human storytelling to reshape influence. As O'Doherty noted, "This next round starts now."
For more information, visit O'Doherty & Associates at www.odohertyassociates.com or follow updates from the firm on its website.
