Kevin Phillips

Founding Partner, Chief Operating Officer

Jarrard Inc. Co-founder and COO Kevin Phillips is a national leader in guiding organizations successfully through communicating change during hospital mergers, acquisitions and other high-stakes transactional moments, as well as issues and advocacy campaigns – all while navigating the evolving difficulties of today’s healthcare environment.

Phillips brings our clients more than 20 years of deep political communications experience at the local, state and national levels. Those range from serving in presidential, Senate and House campaigns to advising candidates in state legislative and judicial races to overseeing the media operations center for multiple national political conventions. He began his career in Washington, D.C., as a communications/press aide in politics and then worked closely as a top aide for more than 10 years with former Tennessee Governor, U.S. Education Secretary and U.S. Senator Lamar Alexander.

Phillips was a key member of the teams that completed the first for-profit hospital conversion in the state of Connecticut, repaired the reputation of a major academic medical center in New York and led vital community hospitals out of bankruptcy. He has shephered numerous faith-based hospitals and health systems through changes in sponsorship and oversaw communications for the largest not-for-profit system “Merger of the Year.”

Today, while he is primarily managing the successful operations and administration of Jarrard, Phillips continues to provide strategic advice and counsel to clients and client teams through transitions, reputation issues and competitive positioning as health systems seek to leverage political strengths and solidify relationships to meet their goals.

Phillips was previously a member of the global board of IPREX, the world’s leading partnership of independent communications firms with more than 1,100 professionals in over 100 markets worldwide, where he served as President of the Americas region.

Worth Knowing:

1. Has mastered the art of crafting the perfect béarnaise
2. Hangs out with his two pocket beagles, Truman and Harper (extra points for getting the name connection)
3. Was on the campaign teams that brought both the NBA’s Grizzlies and the NHL’s Predators to Tennessee