in 2008, mcmahon merged issue & image, the advocacy advertising firm established in 1999, with republican alex castellanos' firm national media public affairs, to form the communications firm purple strategies. mcmahon and castellanos had often met each other while pitching to clients and decided to form purple strategies as a bipartisan consultancy, blending their "blue" and "red" political backgrounds. other founding partners of the alexandria, virginia-based firm include bruce haynes and mark squier. at purple strategies, mcmahon has worked with bp, phrma and the united states chamber of commerce. other clients of the firm include time warner cable, coca-cola and mcdonald's.