Marjan Philhour
Government Relations • Political Consulting • Public Affairs Campaign Management • Strategic Communications
Managing Director
Marjan Philhour is Managing Director of Mercury’s San Francisco office, bringing more than three decades of experience in government, politics, strategic communications, and community advocacy to the firm. She provides clients with expertise in crisis management, stakeholder engagement, and public affairs strategy, advising corporations, nonprofits, and government entities on high-profile initiatives across California and nationally.
Marjan began her public service career in Washington, D.C., working for Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), the only Holocaust survivor to serve in the U.S. Congress. She later served on the staffs of Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Congresswoman Lynn Rivers (D-MI), and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, focusing on women’s issues, workforce development, public health and safety, and the environment. She went on to serve as Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff in the Administration of California Governor Gray Davis.
In San Francisco, Marjan has held senior roles in government, nonprofit, and private consulting. For over 15 years, Marjan led her own firm, which focused on strategic planning, public relations, and fundraising initiatives for political campaigns, Fortune 500 companies, and philanthropic organizations. Most recently, she advised corporate and nonprofit clients on brand positioning, partnerships, and communications strategy, including partnership development for the 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
In 2018, she served as Senior Advisor to Mayor London Breed, directing stakeholder engagement on major citywide initiatives. Prior to her role at City Hall, Marjan was Executive Director of the Community Alliance for Jobs and Housing, where she advanced policy engagement and advocacy on economic development and housing.
Marjan has extensive campaign experience, including finance roles on the presidential campaigns of Senators John Kerry and Barack Obama, as well as multiple U.S. Senate and Congressional races. She has also run for office herself, giving her a unique practitioner’s perspective on political strategy, crisis management, and stakeholder engagement.
Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, and CNN. She currently serves as the elected Second Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee and has held leadership roles in various community organizations.
Marjan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
Marjan began her public service career in Washington, D.C., working for Congressman Tom Lantos (D-CA), the only Holocaust survivor to serve in the U.S. Congress. She later served on the staffs of Congresswoman Nita Lowey (D-NY), Congresswoman Lynn Rivers (D-MI), and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, focusing on women’s issues, workforce development, public health and safety, and the environment. She went on to serve as Senior Advisor to the Chief of Staff in the Administration of California Governor Gray Davis.
In San Francisco, Marjan has held senior roles in government, nonprofit, and private consulting. For over 15 years, Marjan led her own firm, which focused on strategic planning, public relations, and fundraising initiatives for political campaigns, Fortune 500 companies, and philanthropic organizations. Most recently, she advised corporate and nonprofit clients on brand positioning, partnerships, and communications strategy, including partnership development for the 2024 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
In 2018, she served as Senior Advisor to Mayor London Breed, directing stakeholder engagement on major citywide initiatives. Prior to her role at City Hall, Marjan was Executive Director of the Community Alliance for Jobs and Housing, where she advanced policy engagement and advocacy on economic development and housing.
Marjan has extensive campaign experience, including finance roles on the presidential campaigns of Senators John Kerry and Barack Obama, as well as multiple U.S. Senate and Congressional races. She has also run for office herself, giving her a unique practitioner’s perspective on political strategy, crisis management, and stakeholder engagement.
Her work has been featured in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, and CNN. She currently serves as the elected Second Vice Chair of the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee and has held leadership roles in various community organizations.
Marjan holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of California, Berkeley.
