Brownstein Elevates Erin Allsman to Agency President

Today, Brownstein Group — Philadelphia’s largest and longest-running independent advertising and PR agency — announced the promotion of Erin Allsman to company president. She is the first non-family member to hold the title, having most recently served as the agency’s first managing director. In her new role, Erin will continue overseeing the agency’s operations and will work toward strengthening its future as it continues to grow as a destination for top talent to flourish in their careers and best-in-class brands to accelerate and scale their growth.

“Our agency has succeeded for nearly 60 years because we’ve always evolved before it was time,” said CEO Marc Brownstein. “Our founder Berny handed me the reins when I was in my 30s, and now Erin will bring fresh eyes and lead through a new lens. I am confident she will help Brownstein Group continue to grow and thrive for years to come.”

An advertising and public relations veteran, Erin joined Brownstein Group 16 years ago, bringing communications strategy and media relations prowess to the PR department. She quickly rose to the position of Director of Public Relations, where she led the team to expansive growth for 10 years. In 2017, she was promoted to Managing Director, overseeing Brownstein’s creative, public relations, brand strategy, social media, digital practices, business development, agency communications, HR and long-term strategic planning. Under her leadership, Brownstein has experienced double-digit growth, won national accounts and received industry-wide recognition, including being named a Small Agency of the Year by Ad Age.

As a female leader and a PR professional by trade, Erin has continued to bring a unique point of view and will guide the agency to produce more brave work that receives national attention. Her leadership will support the continued evolution of the Brownstein Group brand, which in recent years has expanded to become a network of specialty agencies — Brownstein (strategy + creative), Nucleus (digital marketing), Red Thread PR, and Studio 215 (content production). With Erin at the helm, the network is poised for continued transformation and growth – a true example of an unstoppable brand.

“I’ve always believed in this agency’s ability to renew Philadelphia’s prominence as a magnet for communication and creative excellence. Now, standing on decades of experience, with a team of extraordinary talent and world-class clients, we have more momentum than ever,” Allsman said. “It’s a great responsibility to take Brownstein Group forward; my job is to create an environment where we bring out the best in every person, empower them to reach their full potential, and help our clients reach new heights of success.”

In 2022, the agency expanded its leadership team to include a new Chief Creative Officer, Gary Greenberg (promoted from Executive Creative Director); VP of Account Management, Steve Briggs; Managing Director of Red Thread PR, Laura Emanuel (promoted from Director of PR); and Talent & Culture Director, Rachel Monastra. Each executive brings decades of experience to their roles, as well as a fresh perspective for the agency, and will work alongside Erin in the continued evolution and growth of Brownstein Group.