Marie Kennedy Joins Edelman to Lead Los Angeles Corporate Practice, U.S. Life Sciences Group

LOS ANGELES, Feb. 13, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Edelman, the world's largest public relations firm, has named Marie Kennedy as executive vice president, serving as group head for Edelman Los Angeles' corporate practice, as well as U.S. lead of DJE Science's life sciences group. Kennedy will report to James Williams, General Manager of Edelman Los Angeles and Lynn Hanessian, President of DJE Science. 

"Marie's proven strategic expertise and unique work history of leading large corporate communications teams at public companies make her an ideal choice to lead the Los Angeles corporate practice," said Williams. "I believe our clients, staff and colleagues will all benefit from her counsel and leadership."

Prior to joining Edelman, Kennedy served as Director of Global Communications for Baxter International Inc., a multi-billion dollar diversified healthcare company with 48,000 employees worldwide. She served as senior communications counsel providing strategy to leadership as well as managing a global communications team.

"Marie's insights and experience in guiding life sciences companies from both the corporate and agency sides brings the right leadership skills to the DJE Science team," said Hanessian. "She will be leading efforts with the team to help our clients negotiate the ever changing regulatory and investment environment."

Before her tenure at Baxter, Kennedy served as Vice President of Corporate Communications for Amgen, as well as President of the Amgen Foundation. Other corporate assignments included Genentech and Lena Chow Advertising.

"I'm thrilled to join Edelman and work with the talented teams of experienced, innovative PR practitioners, and be able to leverage Edelman's diverse resources and global footprint to best address clients' business strategies," said Kennedy.

Edelman's Los Angeles corporate practice serves clients such as Shell, Experian and SolarReserve. DJE Science serves clients including Optimer Pharmaceuticals, Jazz Pharmaceuticals and the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago.

About Edelman
Edelman is the world's largest public relations firm, with 60 offices and more than 4,000 employees worldwide. Edelman was named Advertising Age's top-ranked PR firm of the decade in 2009 and one of its "A-List Agencies" in both 2010 and 2011; Adweek's "2011 PR Agency of the Year;" PRWeek's "2011 Large PR Agency of the Year;" and The Holmes Report's "2011 Global Agency of the Year." Edelman was named one of the "Best Places to Work" by Advertising Age in 2010 and among Glassdoor's top five "2011 Best Places to Work." Edelman owns specialty firms Blue (advertising), StrategyOne (research), Ruth (integrated marketing), DJE Science (medical education/publishing and science communications), and MATTER (sports, sponsorship, and entertainment). Visit http://www.edelman.com for more information.

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SOURCE Edelman