Ruth Edelman, widow of PR legend Dan Edelman, has been appointed to the deputy chairman slot at DJE Holdings, parent company of the No. 1 independent PR firm.

CEO Richard Edelman said no one knows the firm’s business or culture better than his mother does.

Ruth has been active in various non-profits and health groups, especially the National Depressive and Manic-Depressive Assn., where she received its Jan Fawcett Humanitarian Award for outstanding contributions to the understanding of depressive illness.

She looks forward to speaking with Richard about business each day, just as his father did.

DJE expects to recruit a non-executive chairman from outside the firm.