The PHA Group Opens US Operation

(MENAFN- PRovoke) LONDON - Earned-first, integrated comms agency The PHA Group has expanded internationally with the launch of PHA US and the appointment of Renée Austin as US president in New York.

Austin (pictured) spent more than 20 years at the Interpublic Group (IPG) serving as global chief client and growth officer and president at Current Global, and EVP at Weber Shandwick, as well as leadership positions at various tech-focused agencies and start-ups. Most recently, she was MD and head of growth at advertising and cultural marketing agency Civic.

The new US business has already started work with Dell's foundation, OneDell, and Hallmark's Crayola Studios.

Austin's experience spans corporate, consumer, health and technology sectors, leading work for brands including Apple, American Airlines, Abbott, Bayer, FedEx, IBM, Kith, L'Oreal, Mastercard, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, Radio Flyer, PwC and Samsung. She has also led social impact and sustainability work for companies and foundations.

The PHA Group CEO George Coleman, who joined the agency last spring after being co-CEO of Current Global and 17 years in total at IPG, told PRovoke Media:“Renée and I worked together at Current Global, so when we were thinking about expanding into the US there was no-one else I would rather work with. She's hit the ground running with clients and pitches, so it's been an incredible start to the year.

“Part of the rationale for opening in New York is that we're seeing a lot of demand for US support from clients this side of the pond; the transatlantic connection, despite what's happening in other parts of life, is still important.”

He added:“Renée is an incredible talent, she's very well-known across the industry, highly respected by clients and has an impeccable track record of delivering creative, high-impact work.”

Austin said:“There's a clear opening in the US for agencies that combine global credibility with the speed and focus of a boutique. 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 US now helps us meet that demand with a model built for the next era of communications.”

The launch builds on the success of Dig & Dig, The PHA Group's boutique digital and social agency brand, which was established in Boston in 2024 and had a seven-figure fee income in 2025. PHA soft-launched Dig & Dig in the UK at the end of last year.

As well as the New York operation, PHA has three UK offices in London, Manchester and Leeds, and Coleman said the agency's US ambition included acquisitions in the near future.

“We want to build an agency offer that mirrors the UK, earned-first, fully integrated covering digital, social and paid – that's the sweet spot in the market and there's a lot of opportunity in the US,” he said.“Our ambition is to grow and scale as quickly as we can, not just through organic growth but we are actively looking at acquisitions to fuel growth.”

MENAFN06022026000219011063ID1110704205