London, 10 June 2026. Cognito, the specialist communications agency for the finance, technology and professional services, has appointed Rhys Merrett as director to strengthen its fintech practice.
Merrett will work with a global team of finance and technology specialists operating across four continents to deliver international communication campaigns. Cognito’s client base spans some of the world’s largest financial institutions and technology companies, alongside the most ambitious emerging players in the sector. It has built a distinctive position bridging traditional finance and decentralised finance.
Merrett joins from The PHA Group, where he spent four years as Head of Tech PR, running accounts across B2B technology, fintech and financial services, from payments infrastructure, neobanks, Web3 and investment platforms.
His experience spans fintech’s breadth: early-stage ventures and firms with global footprints. He joins at a moment of momentum, as UK fintech investment rose 32% year-on-year in the first quarter, with projected full-year funding of $7.5bn. More than 4,400 fintech firms are now active in the UK, nearly tripling in a decade.
Brian Norris, Managing Director at Cognito, said: “Rhys brings exactly the kind of experience and sector fluency our customers need. He knows the sector: the clients, the journalists, the story. I’m happy to have him on the team.”
Rhys Merrett said: “I’m here to make Cognito the defining name in global fintech PR. We have the consultants and expertise to answer the challenges facing fintech from GEO to strategic comms through to media relations. We’re ready to build on our existing strong relationships to help the best of fintech accelerate reach and growth.”
The appointment follows Brian Norris joining as Managing Director of Cognito’s UK office and Simon Evans joining as Head of Financial Services in London. It is part of a broader effort to strengthen the agency’s UK leadership across financial services, fintech and professional services.
About Cognito
Cognito is the global communications agency dedicated to the finance, technology and climate transition sectors. We advise organisations, from established leaders to challenger startups, on how to manage their reputation, address threats, and create value in competitive and disrupted markets.
For the last 25 years, we’ve partnered with companies and their leaders to navigate complex landscapes and build trust and support from stakeholders. Cognito operates from the world’s major financial centres – New York, London, Singapore and Hong Kong – and from offices in continental Europe (Amsterdam, Düsseldorf, Paris) and Australia (Sydney).
