WASHINGTON — The Grocery Manufacturers Association here has named Pamela G. Bailey its next president and chief executive officer.

Pamela Bailey

Bailey has served as president and CEO of the Personal Care Products Council, which represents the $250 billion global cosmetic and personal care products industry, since 2005. She will assume her new role in January.

“I am extremely pleased that Pam Bailey has agreed to take the helm of GMA,” said Doug Conant, president and chief executive officer of Campbell’s Soup and chairman of the board of GMA, in a statement. “In these trying economic times, GMA’s leadership is critical to the continued success of the food, beverage and consumer packaged goods industry. Pam’s extensive experience in government service, bipartisan approach to public policy, success as a trade association leader and her strong credentials in the consumer packaged goods industry made her an obvious choice to position GMA to meet the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.”

Prior to her tenure at PCPC, Bailey worked to achieve FDA and Medicare payment reform while serving as president and CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association. In 2002, Bailey and AdvaMed were named “A Lobby Leader of the Year” by Legal Times. Bailey was also founding CEO and president of the CEO-led Healthcare Leadership Council that works to reform health care policies.

Bailey’s public sector experience includes heading the Reagan White House’s Office of Communications Planning and serving as special assistant to President Reagan, and deputy director in the Office of Public Affairs. She has also been an advisor to Presidents Ford and Nixon, and served as the assistant secretary of public affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Recently appointed Food Marketing Institute president and CEO, Leslie Sarasin, lent her support to Bailey yesterday. “Pam is an excellent selection for this important position,” said Sarasin in a prepared statement. “She brings vision and leadership to the industry at this critical time. It will be my pleasure to work with her as FMI and GMA collaboratively approach industry issues.”

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