Yonkers, New York - Consumer Reports, the largest and most trusted consumer organization in the world, has named former CBS News executive Kelli Halyard as its new Director of Strategic Media Relations & Organizational Communications.
Ms. Halyard will drive CR’s media relations strategy, fostering deeper relationships with key media during a period of dynamic change for the organization. As part of her role, she will advance CR’s efforts to reach new audiences through creative digital platforms, forge innovative partnerships that raise consumer voices and drive marketplace change, and deliver unrivaled content and analysis to consumers where they are. Ms. Halyard also will lead CR’s internal communications team.
She is the most recent of several high-profile hires steeped in new media made by CR this year to drive CR’s digital transformation, including VP, Digital Jason Fox, who joined CR from Thomson-Reuters; Chief Technology Officer Pete DiRenzo, from Re/Code; Director of Engagement Geoffrey MacDougall, from Mozilla; and Director of Social Media Kevin Winterfield, from IBM.
“We’re delighted to welcome another terrific talent like Kelli to our team as we engage new audiences through new media platforms and channels,” said Robert McEwen, VP, Communications. “Kelli is a digitally-savvy veteran whose expertise and experience in media will be invaluable as we create the breakthrough stories and trusted content consumers demand to navigate an ever more complex and crowded marketplace.”
As Executive Director of CBS News Communications, Ms. Halyard managed a staff of seven public relations professionals, overseeing all media and talent relations, public affairs, strategic planning, day-to-day publicity, and external communications.
She was responsible for communications strategy for a wide range of CBS News broadcasts and platforms including CBS Evening News, CBS This Morning, CBSNews.com, and the CBS News Polling & Survey Unit. During her nearly 20 years at CBS, she managed public relations for the debuts of multiple new programs and worked closely with network news personalities including Katie Couric, Bryant Gumbel, Bob Schieffer, and Lara Logan.
“I'm thrilled by the opportunity to join Consumer Reports at such an exciting time for the organization,” Ms. Halyard said. “I’ve admired CR’s rigorous reporting and breakthrough stories on consumer issues, made possible by their remarkable product testing capability and policy work. I'm honored to be part of a talented team whose work impacts the marketplace in such positive ways for consumers.”
About Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is the world’s largest and most trusted nonprofit, consumer organization driving marketplace change to improve the lives and amplify the voices of consumers. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has achieved substantial gains for consumers on food and product safety, financial reform, health and other issues. The organization has advanced important policies to cut hospital-acquired infections, prohibit predatory lending practices and combat dangerous toxins in food. Consumer Reports' independent testing and rating of thousands of products and services is made possible by its member-supported 50 plus labs, state-of-the-art auto test center and consumer research center. Consumers Union, a division of Consumer Reports, works for pro-consumer laws and regulations in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace. With more than eight million subscribers to its flagship magazine, website and other publications Consumer Reports accepts no advertising, payment or other support from the companies whose products it evaluates.