About
A History of Connecting Top Talent with Visionary Brands
Our Story
A New Era of Recruitment
A New Era of Recruitment
Phifer & Company was founded with a vision to revolutionize recruitment for the PR, Communications, Advertising, and Marketing industries. By focusing on culture-fit and seamless integration, we've avoided the pitfalls of traditional sales-driven recruitment, delivering candidates who thrive in their roles and contribute to long-term success. With 28+ years of experience, we’re proud to be a global leader in marketing and communications recruitment.
Building Relationships, Not Just Filling Roles
“When I founded Phifer & Company, I wanted to create a recruitment agency that truly understood the unique needs of our clients. We’re not here to ‘sell’ candidates—we’re here to form lasting partnerships that deliver results. Our approach is all about finding the right fit, not just for the job, but for your culture. That’s why our clients come back to us year after year. We’re not just recruiters; we’re trusted advisors.”
— Brian Phifer, Founder
“When I founded Phifer & Company, I wanted to create a recruitment agency that truly understood the unique needs of our clients. We’re not here to ‘sell’ candidates—we’re here to form lasting partnerships that deliver results. Our approach is all about finding the right fit, not just for the job, but for your culture. That’s why our clients come back to us year after year. We’re not just recruiters; we’re trusted advisors.”
— Brian Phifer, Founder
About Brian Phifer
Founder & Principal, Phifer & Company
Founder & Principal, Phifer & Company
Brian Phifer is the Founder and Principal of Phifer & Company, a global executive search firm specializing in senior-level communications, marketing, and brand leadership roles. Known for his instinctive ability to identify high-impact talent, Brian has built a reputation as one of the most trusted recruiters in the industry — partnering with Fortune 500 companies, high-growth startups, global agencies, and leading consumer and technology brands.
For more than a decade, Brian has guided CEOs, CMOs, CCOs, boards, and founders through some of their most important leadership hires. His work spans corporate, agency, and venture-backed environments across North America, EMEA, and APAC, with a consistent focus on roles that shape brand reputation, narrative, influence, and business performance.
Named a Top 9 Recruiter in North America — Atlas, August 2026
A Specialist in Communications, Brand & Marketing Leadership
Brian’s expertise is rooted in deep specialization. He focuses exclusively on executive roles that sit at the intersection of reputation, brand, strategy, and growth, including:
- Chief Communications Officer & Corporate Affairs leadership
- Chief Marketing Officer & senior brand/digital leaders
- Heads of PR, Media, and Reputation
- Integrated marketing, content, and storytelling leaders
- Agency leadership across PR, digital, creative, and integrated disciplines
Because of this specialization, Brian understands not just job descriptions — but the nuances of what makes great leaders in these fields: strategic clarity, commercial impact, emotional intelligence, executive presence, and the ability to shape brand trust in an increasingly complex world.
A Relationship-First Philosophy
Brian built Phifer & Company on a simple principle:
recruiting is about people, trust, and long-term partnership — not transactions.
His approach is defined by:
- Deep listening
- Confidentiality and discretion
- Honest, direct communication
- A commitment to understanding both candidate and client beyond the résumé
- A focus on culture, chemistry, and leadership compatibility
Many of Brian’s relationships span years, evolving from candidate conversations into advisory partnerships and repeat executive searches.
A Trusted Advisor to Leaders Worldwide
Executives often call Brian not just to fill roles, but to ask:
- How should we structure our communications or marketing function?
- What profile does our next leader need?
- How do we hire for reputation in a digital era?
- What candidates are truly ready for C-suite responsibility?
His blend of market insight, instinct, and discretion has made him a go-to resource for leaders navigating growth, transformation, crisis, and brand reinvention.
A Recognized Voice in the Industry
Brian is widely followed for his transparent, human-centered approach to recruiting.
Across LinkedIn, he reaches an audience of more than 75,000 leaders, including CEOs, CMOs, CCOs, agency founders, and communications professionals around the world.
His content offers:
- Executive hiring insights
- Market trends
- Career guidance
- Observations from the leadership front lines
- A candid view of how modern communications and marketing teams are built
This thought leadership has helped shape conversations around the evolving role of communications in business performance.
Looking Ahead
As communications and marketing become increasingly central to corporate strategy, Brian remains deeply committed to helping organizations hire the leaders who can navigate complexity, drive transformation, and build lasting trust.
Through Phifer & Company, he continues to elevate the profession by matching world-class talent with world-class opportunities — always with discretion, clarity, and a relationship-first approach.
Locations
Globally Connected, Locally Focused
New York
London
Los Angeles
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