– Earned-first integrated communications agency appoints Renée Austin and wins first PHA U.S. clients –
London, 6th February 2026: The PHA Group has announced the launch of PHA U.S.
Renée Austin
The earned-first, integrated comms agency has appointed Renée Austin as President, PHA U.S., and has already kicked off work in the U.S. with OneDell and Hallmark’s Crayola Studios.
Prior to joining PHA, Austin held a number of senior leadership roles in global agency networks and independent firms. Most recently she led growth at Civic Entertainment Group and spent more than 20 years at the Interpublic Group (IPG) serving as Global Chief Client & Growth Officer and President at Current Global, and EVP at Weber Shandwick. She also held leadership positions at various tech-focused communications agencies and startups.
Austin’s extensive experience spans corporate, consumer, health and technology sectors. She has led transformative work for iconic brands, including Apple, American Airlines, Abbott, Bayer, FedEx, IBM, Kith, L’Oreal, Mastercard, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Radio Flyer, PwC and Samsung.
Austin is a trusted advisor to C-suite leaders, guiding them through reputation management, brand positioning, and thought leadership opportunities in an increasingly complex sociopolitical landscape. Her expertise also includes social impact and sustainability work for companies and foundations.
“Renée is an incredible talent,” said George Coleman, CEO, The PHA Group. “She’s very well-known across the industry, highly respected by clients and has an impeccable track record of delivering creative, high-impact work. I’m delighted she has joined PHA. It’s an exciting time for the agency as we look to expand our footprint globally. We’re on a fast-track growth mission and I couldn’t think of anyone better to lead our U.S. operations.”
“There’s a clear opening in the U.S. for agencies that combine global credibility with the speed and focus of a boutique,” said Austin. “Clients want senior access, creativity, and clarity in an increasingly fragmented landscape, and PHA has a formula that’s already proven internationally. Expanding into the U.S. now helps us meet that demand with a model built for the next era of communications.”
“Additionally,” continued Austin, “George and I teamed together previously to scale a mid-sized agency globally. So we already have a great working relationship and proven model based on shared trust and a passion for growth.”
The launch of PHA U.S. builds on the success of Dig & Dig, The PHA Group’s boutique digital and social agency brand.
Dig & Dig was established in Boston, Massachusetts, in 2024 and has grown exponentially to achieve a seven-figure fee income in 2025. PHA U.S. brings additional earned and creative capabilities to enable the group to deliver a full-service integrated comms offering.
The U.S. operations is led out of New York. PHA has three UK offices in London, Manchester and Leeds.
For further media enquiries, please contact: phaprteam@thephagroup.com
About The PHA Group
PHA is an earned-first integrated communications agency.
It builds, grows and protects brands & reputations for a portfolio of consumer, corporate, technology, b2b and health clients.
PHA’s agile multi-disciplined teams create dynamic campaigns across earned, social, digital and paid media. It leads with strategy and delivers a full suite of creative services and production capabilities – engaging audiences everywhere they are, at every step of the journey from awareness through to conversion.
In a fast, chaotic and complex world PHA is built to solve creatively and work as one to MAKE IT MATTER.
PHA was founded in London in 2005 and is a top 30 independent UK PR agency. It has offices in London, Manchester, Leeds, Boston (Massachusetts) and New York.