Ready to get noticed?

Turn to Paragon when you want to flex your brand muscle.

About Paragon

Our international team of full-time communications professionals helps financial, fintech, crypto, emerging technology, and other forward-looking firms become recognized leaders.

Paragon is a high-impact agency with decades of top-level industry experience. We build reputations that drive business results, ensuring that you are heard, understood, and respected. Formed in 2012, we deliver a full suite of strategic communications, including public relations, digital marketing and content/editorial services.

Established after the financial crisis to meet the needs of an emerging group of financial technology companies, we’ve expanded to provide support for a wide range of industry leaders. Throughout this period, our approach has remained consistent, taking a messaging-led route to building strong, sustainable and results-focused brands.

 

Your Partners are now our partners

Paragon is pleased to partner with Your Partners to accelerate growth for digital asset firms througha wider range of business and marketing services. Learn more.

Dedicated people doing great work

Our team’s diverse experiences and capabilities provide the right expertise to meet every client’s needs. But we never stand still, and our passion to deliver results shines through in everything we do.

We pride ourselves on our long-term relationships that are based on trust and our ability to evolve with our clients’ businesses. After all, your success is our success.

Simon Hylson-Smith

Founder & CEO

Simon loves solving puzzles on behalf of Paragon's clients, delivering content-based solutions that help drive real business results. As a former reporter and editor, he knows what it takes to capture stories that resonate with top-tier media, and also enjoys writing! Outside of work, Simon enjoys hiking through the Colorado mountains with his wife and three dogs.

MICHELLE ELISEO

Managing Director

Integrity, passion and creativity are some of Michelle’s hallmarks. These come into play whether she is driving brand strategy and building engaging marketing touchpoints for Paragon’s clients, or perhaps trying something new in the kitchen, exploring museums and planning the next family road trip.

COLLEEN HYLSON-SMITH

Director

Colleen is at the heart of Paragon, ensuring that Operations and Human Resource run smoothly. With her business background, she understands what matters most and how firms can get the best out of their talent. When she's not at Paragon, you'll find her at the gym, doing yoga, or at home playing with her rescue dogs.

MELISSA EVEN

EVP, Marketing

Core to our clients’ marketing initiatives, Melissa focuses on branding, messaging and positioning, collateral creation, event coordination and all things digital. Central to the company’s internal growth and business development, her enthusiasm drives the team to seek creative angles for our clients. Outside of work, she enjoys yoga, traveling and snowboarding.

Virun Rampersad

Executive Coach

Virun is passionate about helping people and teams succeed. It was core to his success as a senior Wall Street executive and underpins his work today as an Executive and Team Coach. He is skilled at helping technology and business executives solve problems and improve their sales and leadership skills so they move faster and deliver better results. Outside of work, Virun enjoys time at the beaches in New York, New England and Florida.

Tom Murphy

VP, Media Relations

Tom Murphy brings over ten years of experience in journalism to Paragon’s media relations team. Tom worked as a local news anchor, reporter and producer in Michigan, California, and New Jersey before transitioning into the public relations industry. Tom is excited to bring his PR experience, which includes representing clients in financial services, financial technology, crypto and other emerging technologies.

MATT AUSTIN

Senior Account Manager

Matt got his break in communications as an advertising copywriter in Hong Kong before moving back to London (via Montreal) to build a career in PR and marketing, primarily in financial services. Outside of work, he has combined his obsession with language learning and passion for horse-riding to go off the beaten track in locations as diverse as Kyrgyzstan and Iceland.

MATTHEW BIRD

Account Manager

Matt has recently graduated with a BSc in Economics and Management Studies. He is keen to learn all about the fintech industry and the different strategic approaches to marketing. Outside of work, Matt likes to play sports – particularly football (soccer) and (field) hockey – and watch the Premier League with friends and family.

Jacob Rowlands

Account Manager

Having made his start in the world of FinTech communications in Chicago, Jake was keen to further his expertise upon his return to London. With a content driven approach, Jake is always on the lookout for a story for his clients. In his spare time he is an avid field hockey player and follower of Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Kendall Lewczak

Account Executive

Kendall is a communications professional with experience in public relations, media and marketing. She enjoys the creative challenges and solutions of working in the industry. Outside of work, Kendall is a competitive Irish dancer and enjoys traveling, kayaking and skiing.

Ben Webb

Chief Blogger

Ben is an award-winning journalist who started writing for newspapers when the clatter of typewriters filled the newsroom. Today he loves telling unique and compelling stories for corporate clients. Away from work he likes films, wildlife and running... to earn the odd pint of real ale.

Image of Anthony Anthony Battrick, Paragon's Brand Strategist

Anthony Battrick

Brand Strategist

Tony is a hugely experienced and collaborative strategist who combines rigor with flair. His skills have been honed during a career at some of London's top advertising agencies. Tony has created brand strategies and award-winning communications campaigns across a host of categories, from IT to automotive, FMCG to finance, and leisure to Government. A highly trusted partner to B2B clients as well as B2C (both international and UK), Tony applies the same high standards of strategic insight and creativity to both. He is also an expert qualitative researcher.

Graham Pugh

Brand Strategist

Graham spent most of his long career in advertising, first as an award winning copywriter and then as a highly successful Creative Director. He worked at agencies such as Saatchi & Saatchi, FCB and McCann, before running creative functions on the client side and consulting for major brands. He brings a wealth of financial services experience with clients and specializes in getting under the skin of brands and bringing them to life in an original and distinctive way.

Angie Rodriguez

Angie Rodriguez

Marketing Account Executive

Crisanyelis (Angie) is a proud first-generation Latina and college graduate from Rutgers University-Newark with experience in content marketing and project management. Outside of work, Angie dedicates her time to her family and daughter, Ana, and as an avid fitness fanatic, she enjoys going to the gym four times a week. Besides that, she performs community and campus work as an active member of Sigma Lambda Upsilon/Señoritas Latinas Unidas Sorority, Inc. and hopes to one day be a role model for the minority community.

Joni Medzadourian

Joni Medzadourian

Digital Marketing Associate

Joni recently graduated from Fairfield University where she earned her degree in digital marketing and graphic design. A former Paragon intern, Joni loves creating powerful visuals that transform brands and keeping up with the latest industry trends. Beyond work, you'll find Joni choreographing competitive dance routines across NY & NJ, attending as many concerts as she can, and cheering for the U.S. Women’s soccer team!

Savannah Stewart

Savannah Stewart

Intern

Savannah is an undergraduate student at Fordham University studying global business. She is excited for the opportunity to explore the marketing and media realm first-hand through the use of new mediums, and she is looking forward to learning new communication skills from professionals in the industry.

Are you ready to begin your journey?

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