Meet the TKC team

Andy Keown, Founder

Andy Keown is a Los Angeles–based public relations leader with more than 20 years of experience shaping narratives for the world’s top travel, hospitality, and lifestyle brands. His career has taken him around the globe, fueling a deep expertise and passion for travel, and providing unique insight into international markets, luxury and boutique hotels, design-driven properties, and iconic global destinations.

Andy began his career in-house, spending more than a decade with Hilton Hotels and Visit West Hollywood before moving into senior agency roles where he led high-profile campaigns for clients such as Delta Air Lines, Tourism Fiji, Visit Victoria (Melbourne, Australia), Hong Kong Tourism Board, Tourism Authority of Thailand, Mandarin Oriental, Avani Hotels & Resorts, Ritz-Carlton, Dream Hotels, JSX, VistaJet, and Turtle Bay Resort, among many others. Over the course of his career, Andy has successfully launched more than a dozen new hotels, orchestrated domestic and international media and influencer famils, and built a trusted global network of top-tier media contacts and creator relationships. He is equally adept at developing creative brand storytelling as he is at delivering advanced PR and social reporting, ensuring campaigns achieve measurable impact and strong ROI.

In 2019, Andy founded The Keown Company to focus on clients he is most passionate about and products he believes in, offering hands-on, strategic counsel backed by a proven record of results. His expertise spans everything from traditional media relations to creator partnerships, social media integration, and private and general aviation communications.

In addition to his client work, Andy has contributed to the next generation of communicators. Following the Covid-19 pandemic, he served as adjunct faculty at USC’s Annenberg School for Communication, overseeing the school’s virtual Annenberg Agency for four years. In this role, he provided much-needed professional development opportunities to students navigating an especially challenging time.

A proud graduate of USC Annenberg, Andy combines a global perspective with a personal passion for travel, hospitality, and storytelling — helping brands inspire travelers and connect meaningfully with audiences worldwide.

Ellie Barnes, Senior Publicist

Ellie Barnes is an experienced publicist with a strong background in travel and lifestyle communications. Prior to joining The Keown Company, she honed her skills at leading hospitality PR agencies Murphy O’Brien and C&R, where she supported some of the world’s most recognized hotels, resorts, and destinations.

Ellie specializes in driving impactful media results across print, digital, and broadcast outlets, securing coverage that elevates brands and inspires travelers. Her expertise includes writing press materials, crafting compelling pitches, building itineraries, and coordinating client communications. She also brings sharp organizational skills, ensuring campaigns run seamlessly and deliver measurable results.

At The Keown Company, Ellie combines her media savvy with a passion for travel storytelling, delivering thoughtful, creative, and detail-oriented support that helps clients shine in a competitive global marketplace.

Diane Gordon, Strategy & Editorial Consultant

Diane Gordon is a multifaceted communications strategist whose career spans media, storytelling, and brand positioning. With roots in the entertainment industry — from red carpet and event coverage to talent management, production, and social media — Diane has developed an extraordinary ability to craft narratives that resonate with audiences and elevate brands.

She has written and reported for outlets such as Variety, Vulture/New York Magazine, TV Guide, and TV Insider, honing her skills in sharp editorial storytelling, trend-spotting, and cultural insight. As co-host of the TV podcast What’s The Hook and a former Social Media Host for the Paley Center for Media, Diane is adept at engaging diverse audiences, cultivating communities, and building authentic connections between creators, talent, and fans.

At The Keown Company, Diane brings this unique blend of editorial expertise, social savvy, and production know-how to the world of travel, hospitality, and lifestyle PR. She excels at distilling complex brand stories into engaging narratives, shaping campaigns that connect meaningfully with media, creators, and consumers alike. Known for her creative instincts, wit, and strategic vision, Diane helps clients amplify their voice, define their story, and make lasting impact in a crowded media landscape.