Public Relations Veteran Sarah Marshall Russ Joins Austin-Based Phillips & Company Leadership Team as Senior Vice President

AUSTIN, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Phillips & Company, a global public relations and business development firm, announced today that 25-year public relations veteran Sarah Marshall Russ has joined the Austin-based firm as senior vice president. The announcement comes as the company experiences increased demand for services as companies in technology markets seek to reinvent their growth strategies and develop new communication strategies in dynamic and unpredictable markets.

“I have watched as Phillips & Company has gained momentum over the past few years. I am excited about the work they are doing to help companies with communication and business growth strategies. I look forward to being a part of such a great team.”

According to Rich Phillips, president of Phillips & Company, “Our clients are looking for innovation and proven communication strategies that will help them accelerate revenue and grow their business. I’ve known Sarah for many years and I am honored to have her join the Phillips & Company team. Her extensive experience helping companies position themselves for success will help us meet the needs of our clients in this challenging economy. Sarah is a proven leader in the field of communications and with her leadership we will continue to redefine public relations as a critical business development tool for growth.”

Sarah Marshall Russ is a communications consultant with experience in a broad array of communication disciplines including internal and external communications, traditional and social media relations and government relations in a variety of industries including high-tech, telecommunications, energy, state government, non-profit and consumer markets. She has extensive experience in crisis communications as well as media training and executive coaching and has trained hundreds of executives around the globe.

Most recently, Russ has been an independent communications consultant supporting clients such as Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), Texas Instruments DLP, Infor, and C3 Presents, which produces the Austin City Limits Music Festival and Lollapalooza Music Festival. Prior to her independent consulting work, Russ was vice president and general manager of Waggener Edstrom Worldwide’s Austin, Texas office. She joined the firm in 2003 and supported accounts such as AMD, BMC, LifeSize, and Lance Armstrong’s SIX Victory celebration. Before joining Waggener Edstrom, Russ was a director in the Austin office of Citigate Cunningham, where she oversaw public relations activities in the regional office and managed clients such as AMD, the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce, the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the Motorola Marathon.

Russ has served as the public relations director of IntelliQuest Information Group, a marketing research firm, and marketing communications manager for IXC Communications, supporting the retail and wholesale channels. In addition, Russ spent about four years with Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector as public relations and marketing manager for the “Powered by Motorola” customer marketing and ingredient branding initiative, working with consumer brands including Apple, Canon, Chrysler, Ford Motor Co., HP, Philips, Sony and Timex.

Russ spent a number of years managing public and government relations in the energy business and began her career in political public relations and Texas state government. She has a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of Texas at Austin.

Russ is a past president of the Austin chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) and has served on the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce board and Communications Council. In 1994, she won the Austin PRSA Rising Star Award; in 2001 and 2003 she won the Austin Chapter award; in 2005, she won the PRSA Austin Star Award; and in 2006 she was honored with the PRSA Austin Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award. Sarah is an avid runner and a past member of the Austin Mayor’s Fitness Council. She is on the board of Junior Achievement, the American Lung Association as well as The Trail Foundation. Russ has been a presenter at PRSA’s Southwest District Conference and national T3 Conference and is a guest lecturer for the University of Texas, St. Edward’s University and Austin Community College.

Said Russ, “I have watched as Phillips & Company has gained momentum over the past few years. I am excited about the work they are doing to help companies with communication and business growth strategies. I look forward to being a part of such a great team.”

High growth areas for Phillips & Company this year have included space technology and commerce, green technology and sustainability, and mobile computing. Phillips & Company has experienced double-digit revenue growth every year since its inception in 2003, bringing into its client base a variety of large, established technology companies as well as emerging leaders in new technology markets. Phillips & Company expects continued growth over the next year and the need for additional hires over the next six months.

About Phillips & Company

Phillips & Company is a leading consulting firm that helps companies achieve sustainable growth through the creation and execution of strategic communications and business development campaigns. Business solutions include brand positioning, business development, public relations, integrated marketing and government relations. Ultimately, Phillips helps companies create demand for their products and services by broadening and reinforcing the trust customers, partners and investors have in their company. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, Phillips & Company has operations in Washington, D.C., Miami, London and Hong Kong. For more information about Phillips & Company please visit www.phillipscompany.com.