Renee Malone, APR, is the President & CEO of KQ Communications. Known as the firm’s strategic communications planning and crisis media expert, she is accredited in public relations (APR), certified in crisis communication and holds an undergraduate degree in communications and an MBA with a concentration in marketing.

Renee has spent nearly two decades leading award-winning projects for KQ’s nonprofit, business and government clients. As a result, KQ has grown into one of the largest Black-owned PR firms in the Southeast. 

Renee has received awards from PRNEWS, the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) Memphis and Georgia chapters, and the National School Public Relations Association. Past honors include PRSA Memphis 2019 Executive of the Year; 2021 Memphis Business Journal (MBJ) Superwoman in Business and two-time finalist for the MBJ Executive of the Year Award (2017 and 2021). She also serves several nonprofit and business-related organizations, including The BOW Collective, comprising the top 1% of business owners.

Before co-founding KQ, Renee worked as a broadcast news reporter and anchor, and as a public information officer for a school district. She is an Illinois native. Renee is married to Dr. F. Kevin Malone, and they have two adult children, Dominique (Yannick) and Kevin Jr.

Renee is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and Brown Missionary Baptist Church.