Helga Ying
Helga Ying

Helga Ying, who is in charge of the International AIDS Society’s offices in San Francisco and Oakland, is moving to Edelman as global and US chair of Purpose.

Upon taking the job on Jan. 4, she will be based in San Francisco and report to Katie Burke, chief strategy officer and global head of practices & sectors, and Russell Dubner, US president & CEO.

At IAS, Ying oversaw the 23rd International AIDS Conference, which is the biggest HIV and AIDS event.

Earlier, she was VP-external engagement and social responsibility at American Eagle Outfitters and senior director of worldwide government affairs and public policy at Levi Strauss & Co.

Ying has extensive experience in handling campaigns tied to purpose. Those efforts include AIDS 2020’s Profiles in Resilience; AerieREAL’s partnership with the National Eating Disorders Assn.; American Eagle’s PRIDE involvement with InterPride and It Gets Better; and Levis Strauss’ engagement with Rock the Vote and HeadCount.

Citing her more than 25 years of experience in counseling brands and companies on Purpose, PA and community outreach, Richard Edelman said Ying will “ensure our clients lead with actions rooted in purpose that prompt substantive change.”

Ying assumes the duties of Marion Darrieutort, CEO of Elan Edelman and global chair of Purpose who left in October to pursue entrepreneurial projects.