NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–RLM Public Relations, a leading New York boutique marcom firm specializing in launches and new categories, today announced it has named Jon Lindsay Phillips as its Chief Operating Officer. Previously the firm’s Executive Director, Phillips has spent nearly four years streamlining the central thesis of the 29-year-old agency: delivering KPI-driven, needle moving outcomes for clients—from global enterprise to disruptive startups—reimagining the marketplace, society, and human experience.

Phillips, along with CEO & President Richard Laermer, shaped the firm during these years as an antidote to the empty promises and pain points of the ordinary agency/client scenario. Their vision proved that market-defining expertise and evocative content tethered to the careful unpacking of industry news achieved better results than announcements and other tired tactics. Together, the twosome assembled an outstanding roster of more than 25 clients in a host of rapid-growth industries.

Among the notable achievements under their direction, the firm catapulted the successes of indie podcast titan Wondery Inc.; digital currency innovators Crypterium and Nash/Neon Exchange; giant CBD brands Foria, Wildflower, and DEFY; “big cannabis” sector-leaders Green Flower, Namaste Tech, SoRSE, and Enlighten; and retail brands such as Todd Oldham’s Kid Made Modern. And they grew an enterprise division by helming major initiatives for Interxion, Packet Host, Aon, and Loop Media.

Laermer explained: “Jon has been the catalyst to fully imagining RLM’s comms, content, digital, IR, and influencer programs. And he’s still as client-facing and hands-on as the day he started. All of which has resulted in award-winning client work of which we are the proudest!”

Among RLM’s high-level goals for 2020, Phillips remains focused on two central pillars: continuing to ensure RLM is best-positioned in the current and future marcom landscape to deliver day-to-day results for clients, and ensuring that diversity and inclusion are more than just hollow talk for the firm, its employees, and clients.

Under Phillips’ leadership, RLM will continue to bet on in-home tech and OTT, alternative wellness, gaming, blockchain, machine learning and AI, cyber, AR/VR, fintech, cloud/infrastructure, cannabis/CBD, health-tech, and several other emerging sectors. Also, RLM will scale its paid internships under the new Diversity & Inclusion Program and develop best-in-class training and development efforts for staff and managers.

“RLM will continue to deliver superior media and marketplace outcomes for our clients,” said Phillips, “because we challenge them daily to do better by leveraging our expertise and sincere counsel—especially in industries where our agency has established best practices for marcom and written the manual! We help our clients transcend their categories by clearly voicing values and leveraging platforms to advance company visions via real impactful action—the way consumers and decision makers expect today.”

Brooklyn-based Phillips, 40, began his marcom career in politics and entertainment. He holds an MFA in Writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, where he studied under Jim McManus and Carol Anshaw. Prior to RLM, he was co-founder and comms director for North Carolina Music Love Army, a nonprofit organization that fought against voter suppression in the Tarheel State. He was an HR analyst at Bank of America (2006-2009); taught High School English; and most importantly, is an internationally touring music artist and producer under the moniker Jon Lindsay. ​

About RLM PR

RLM Public Relations was founded by journalist Richard Laermer in 1991. A leading New York marcom firm specializing in launches, new categories, and corporate subdivisions, this award-winning company offers a range of services featuring media relations, IR, crisis comms, and a suite of digital and content capabilities. RLM PR has launched and relaunched clients in emerging industries such as mobile, eComm, streaming/OTT, machine learning/AI, cyber, publishing and digital media, blockchain, financial services and fintech/payments, gaming, infrastructure, cannabis/CBD, pharma, med devices, and nascent health-tech.