Phil Armstrong

Throughout a 30-year career in politics, government, public affairs, corporate communications, marketing and advertising, Phil Armstrong has established a national reputation as a leading counselor and strategist on corporate reputation, issue management, and brand strategy.

Mr. Armstrong has deep, hands-on expertise devising and leading client programs in the areas of corporate and brand positioning, marketing strategy, issue management, and crisis communications. He has extensive experience in strategic brand planning, utilizing primary and secondary research to develop positioning strategies and design integrated marketing and corporate communications programs.   

Mr. Armstrong spent more than two decades of his career in Washington, DC, and has managed public policy programs for corporate, trade association, and NGO clients on legislative, regulatory, and international trade matters. He has been a registered lobbyist, political consultant, and government official.

His clients have included Fortune 500 companies such as Allstate, DuPont, UPS, Northrop Grumman, IBM, Unilever, and Pfizer; many trade associations, including the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association; and several federal government agencies. Mr. Armstrong’s experience includes financial services, technology, consumer packaged goods, automotive, telecommunications, energy and the environment, health care, and manufacturing.

Mr. Armstrong has handled multiple crisis and issues challenges for clients, working with law firms on civil and criminal litigation matters, government investigations, bankruptcies, and restructuring. He has represented corporations and individuals facing crisis situations including environmental incidents, labor-management disputes, on-site facility accidents, product recalls, law enforcement actions, and civil disobedience. He has established crisis communications contingency protocols and models for companies and NGOs.

Mr. Armstrong has received numerous professional awards for his work, including the Silver Anvil from the Public Relations Society of America and the Gold Sabre from the Holmes Report.

Mr. Armstrong was most recently Chief Operating Officer for Zeno Group, a Daniel J. Edelman company. He founded its Washington, DC office and started the firm’s corporate and public affairs practice. Mr. Armstrong was responsible for financial and personnel management of the firm’s four domestic offices, strategic planning, new business development, and client service. 

He led teams and directed programs for several of the firm’s largest clients, including Pfizer, TD Ameritrade, Evenflo, AstraZeneca, Kia Motors, Sears, Fonterra, and Allstate.

Prior to Zeno Group, Mr. Armstrong was executive vice president and national corporate and public affairs practice leader for Euro RSCG Magnet, a division of Havas. Previously, he was managing partner at Earle Palmer Brown, a national advertising and public relations agency, leading offices in Washington, New York, and Philadelphia.  

Earlier in his career, Mr. Armstrong was senior vice president and group director in the Washington, DC office of Hill and Knowlton Inc., where he led the firm’s grassroots and state and local public affairs practice. Following H&K, he was senior vice president at The Jefferson Group, a national public affairs and government relations firm. 

Mr. Armstrong started his career in politics and served as a political appointee in the executive branch of the federal government. He was a speechwriter and press secretary in the Department of Defense as well as deputy assistant secretary for public affairs for the Department of Education.

Mr. Armstrong is a member of the Counselors Academy of the Public Relations Society of America. He received a Bachelor of Science degree from the School of Journalism at the University of Iowa.