By Greg Hazley
The independent foundation created to support First Lady Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign and hold companies accountable for their food offerings has brought in AARP veteran Drew Nannis in its senior PR post after a search.
Nannis on 'Good Morning America' in 2009. |
Nannis, senior VP of media relations and strategy for the seniors group, has taken over as communications director for the Partnership for a Healthier America in Washington, D.C., which posted the position in February.
Nannis was a prominent voice and face of AARP as the organization defended its support of the Obama administration's healthcare overhaul from 2009-10.
The group's leadership, in addition to Obama, includes former Sen. Bill Frist, Newark Mayor Corey Booker, and CEO Larry Soler, former COO for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation. Its official mission is to link private sector, foundations, media and community groups to curb childhood obesity, although a key focus is to hold companies accountable for their children's food offerings and report on progress in the obesity fight.
Nannis is a former director of public affairs for PhRMA and worked on the Hill as press secretary for Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) and communications director for Rep. Marion Berry (D-Ark.).
The PHA, which is backed by entities like Kaiser Permanente, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, will add Matthew Slater of General Growth Properties as head of business development on May 9.
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