alicia thompsonAlicia Thompson has been appointed to head the Atlanta outpost of the No. 1 independent PR firm.

She takes over for Steve Behm, who now heads Edelman South.

Thompson, a former VP-communications & PR at Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, was running Edelman's food business in the region.

She also worked in PR at BellSouth Corp. and Coca-Cola.

Behm cited Thompson's strong times to the Atlanta community and integrated marketing communications expertise among key reasons for her elevation to the post.