# Tom Phillips

> Tom Phillips spent 18 years at Microsoft rising to VP of Communications, where he led PR strategy for the company's advertising business, managed media around major acquisitions, guided CEO communications, and drove narratives through cultural transformations. With over four decades of total PR experience, he left Microsoft in late 2024 to launch Upstream Communications, a Seattle-based strategic communications firm focused on helping clients tell their stories with precision and purpose.

- **Role:** Founder and CEO at Upstream Communications
- **Organizations:** Microsoft, Upstream Communications
- **Nationality:** American
- **Education:** B.S., University of Oregon
- **Known for:** Spent 18 years at Microsoft in senior communications leadership, rising to VP of Communications, Led PR strategy for Microsoft Advertising with global responsibility for external communications, Managed communications for major Microsoft acquisitions, securing Tier One news coverage

## Career timeline

- **Pre-2006** — Spent multiple years in PR and communications roles before joining Microsoft, accumulating early decades of industry experience
- **~2006** — Joined Microsoft, beginning an 18-year tenure in senior communications roles
- **2006-2024** — Held senior communications positions at Microsoft including Senior Director of Communications for Microsoft Advertising, with global responsibility for external communications and PR for the Microsoft Advertising Business Group
- **2006-2024** — As VP of Communications at Microsoft, led communications for CEO announcements, cultural transformation narratives, major acquisitions (securing Tier One media coverage), employee relations, and U.S. government and foreign government engagement
- **2024** — Retired from Microsoft after 18 years
- **2025-03** — Launched Upstream Communications, a strategic communications firm based in Seattle with reach across Washington D.C., New York, Dallas, Silicon Valley, and London

## Achievements

- Spent 18 years at Microsoft in senior communications leadership, rising to VP of Communications
- Led PR strategy for Microsoft Advertising with global responsibility for external communications
- Managed communications for major Microsoft acquisitions, securing Tier One news coverage
- Directed CEO-level communications strategy at Microsoft
- Led cultural transformation communications at one of the world's largest technology companies
- Managed communications programs supporting U.S. government agencies and foreign government relationships
- Founded Upstream Communications in March 2025, a strategic PR firm with a multi-city network
- Accumulated over four decades of public relations experience working with major global brands
- Thought leader contributor at MediaVillage on digital advertising and opt-in communications

## Latest updates

- **2025-03** — Launched Upstream Communications in March 2025 after retiring from Microsoft
- **2025-05** — PR Week covered the launch of Upstream Communications, highlighting Tom's 18-year Microsoft tenure and new firm's focus on strategic communications

## Links

- Website: https://www.upstreamcomms.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tom-phillips-573b535/
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/tphillips59

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/tom-phillips
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-29