John Banner, senior executive producer at ABC News, is moving to PepsiCo’s global communications unit as senior VP of global strategy and planning.
Banner |
The food and beverage giant said Banner is in charge of “synchronizing, coordinating and planning” communications efforts worldwide, as well as supporting business unit priorities.
The company in April tapped Brunswick Group alum and former Bush administration aide Jim Wilkinson for its top communications post, vacated by Julie Hamp in March.
Banner has been with ABC for his entire career of 22 years, rising from desk assistant in New York and handling various roles from Dallas bureau chief to the re-brand of its news division and working on marketing, promotion and network research. He also guided the financial restructuring of the ABC News unit and served as executive producer of “ABC World News” from 2003-11.
Wilkinson said Banner has a "unique" understanding of the global communications landscape and a track record of developing smart communications strategies across all forms of media.
PepsiCo bounced executive VP-corporate affairs Tim Cost in January.
The New York Times reported Aug. 18 that PepsiCo is among a handful of large food industry companies like Heinz, ConAgra and General Mills being targeted by lawyers from the Big Tobacco fights over product labeling and ingredients.