CHICAGO: Bill Layden has left Porter Novelli's Washington office to become the EVP and director of Edelman's US food and nutrition practice.
Layden had been director of the food, beverage, and nutrition group at PN, but said he wanted to get closer to the consumer side of food PR.
He's already formulating plans for Edelman to create a series of thought panels to discuss the growing issue of obesity and the food business.
"I believe that weight and obesity is fast becoming the most vexing issue that society faces, and I really think the food and beverage industries should be part of the solution," he said.
Layden has served on several expert panels on obesity for the American Dietetic Association Foundation, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and the National Nutrition Summit.
While at PN, he worked with clients such as the Almond Board of California, the American Cancer Society, and Procter & Gamble.
Edelman's food and nutrition practice works with clients such as Kraft, KFC, ConAgra, and Butterball.
