BIOGRAPHY

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Ilene V. Smith, M.S., R.D.
Vice President
Associate Director, Food & Nutrition Practice
Ketchum North America

Ilene Smith brings a broad background in both journalism and dietetics to Ketchum’s Food & Nutrition Practice. She joined Ketchum in the fall of 1998 to lend her nutrition expertise, scientific knowledge and strategic planning skills to food clinets, including DSM Nutritional Products (formerly Roche Vitamins Inc.), Frito-Lay, Wendy’s, Welch’s, the California Strawberry Commission and others.

Ms. Smith provides strategic counsel to clients throughout the Ketchum network on nutrition-related matters ranging from obesity to chronic disease prevention to health promotion. Ms. Smith routinely monitors developments in nutrition science and medical research and identifies opportunities for clients to leverage those developments. She also plays a key role in developing creative and effective media strategies based on nutrition messaging. She has developed professional outreach, consumer media and direct-to-consumer programs by translating nutrition and medical research into practical guidelines that consumers, the media and professionals can use.

For DSM, Ms. Smith develops and manages the execution of programs designed to create consumer, media and health professional awareness about vitamins and other specialized nutrients and is working with the California Strawberry Commission to draw attention to the nutritional benefits of strawberries and the role they play in a healthy diet. For both organizations, she works extensively with third party organizations such as the American Dietetic Association and the American Heart Association to create alliances, partnerships and sponsorships designed to communicate important consumer health messages. She has works with many key leaders in the fields of nutrition research and nutrition education at major academic centers and government organizations throughout the United States.

Prior to joining Ketchum, Ms. Smith had a private practice as a registered dietitian and nutrition consultant to various organizations throughout New York City. She became a registered dietitian in 1995 and started her education and career in nutrition after spending eight years as a trade journalist for Hearst Business Communications and Fairchild Publications.

Ms. Smith is a member of the American Dietetic Association and the Public Relations Society of America.

Education
M.S., Nutrition and Applied Physiology, Columbia University
B.A., Journalism and Mass Communications, New York University