IFIC, Foundation Get Senior Director of Communications

The International Food Information Council (IFIC) and the IFIC Foundation have appointed Matt Raymond their senior director of communications. Raymond’s communications experience encompasses the U.S. Department of Agriculture, UNICEF, the Library of Congress and Capitol Hill.

“In our search for a new senior director of communications, we wanted someone with the communication skills and a record of innovation and results to help us reach both new audiences, and new heights as a top-of-mind resource for science-based information on health, nutrition and food safety,” explained Kimberly Reed, executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based IFIC Foundation. “Not only does Matt have the knowledge and skills we were looking for, but much of his background aligns well with IFIC and the foundation’s mission and goals.”

Raymond (above) began his career as an on-air, small-market TV reporter. After relocating to Washington, he worked on Capitol Hill for eight years as a communications director for two senators and chief of staff for a congressman. He was also director of speechwriting at the U.S. Department of Agriculture and, for a short time, acting communications director under USDA Secretaries Ann M. Veneman and Mike Johanns. Raymond went on to work as senior communications adviser for Veneman during her first two years as executive director at UNICEF in New York. He then returned to Washington to work as director of communications at the Library of Congress for nearly five years.

Supported primarily by the broad-based food, beverage and agricultural industries, the IFIC Foundation is dedicated to effectively communicating science-based information on health, nutrition and food safety for the public good.