Robert Phillips

Communications. Reputation. Trust.

CEO, Author, Commentator
Founder, Jericho Chambers

Jericho was founded and led by Robert Phillips until his death in June 2021. We remain guided and inspired by his lasting legacy.

Robert was at the forefront of the UK Public Relations industry for three decades. His expert area was the relationship between communications, leadership and trust.

Robert’s 2015 book Trust Me, PR is Dead was heralded by Management Today as “a game-changer for the future of communications”. His often outspoken views have been described as “essential for anyone who wants to influence and persuade in the mid-21^st century”.  Robert helped build coalitions across business, government and civil society on subjects ranging from Responsible Tax to the Future of Work; Adult Social Care to the Future of Transport; Infrastructure and Housing to the Built Environment. Robert advocates new operating principles based on activism, accountability, co-production and dissent.

Robert was a Visiting Professor at Cass Business School, City, University of London. He was formerly CEO, Europe, Middle East & Africa for Edelman – the world’s largest Public Relations firm and Global Chair of its Future Strategies & Public Engagement Group. He co-founded JCPR in 1987 – described by PR Week as “the seminal consumer brands consultancy of the Nineties and Noughties” – which he sold to Edelman in 2004. Two of Robert’s campaigns, for Wonderbra and PlayStation, were included in the Top 20 PR Campaigns of All Time.

Past clients included an array of major global organisations: Shell, Microsoft, Aviva, KPMG, Capco, Go-Ahead Group and Sony.