Deborah LouisonSenior Vice President
202.776.7366 | deborah.louison@thewadegroupinc.com
Deborah Louison has more than 35 years of experience in public affairs with a focus on the food industry, corporate social responsibility (CSR) and sustainability. She has supported large, international food and beverage companies in their efforts to raise corporate visibility, recognition and influence in public policy debates. As a food, CSR and sustainability expert, she regularly speaks on policy issues at forums and events, and has published numerous publications and articles.
While working as the head of corporate affairs for Cadbury Americas, Louison was a member of the CEO's global Food Issues Strategies Group and chair of the Americas regional committee, where she developed global policies for the company. The committee developed 30 policy positions on issues such as obesity, sugar, salt, fat/transfat, food additives, and vending machines in schools. On behalf of Cadbury, she negotiated an agreement with the Alliance for Healthier Generation (Clinton Foundation) regarding beverages in schools and chaired internal initiatives to meet agreement milestones. She spearheaded Cadbury's participation in the industry's voluntary guidelines on advertising to children, which ultimately provided protection for the industry from government regulation.
During her role with Cadbury, Louison was a senior representative on the executive committees of the Grocery Manufacturers Association, National Confectioners Association and the American Beverage Association where she gained significant influence over key industry policy positions aligned with company priorities.
Louison developed corporate plans to meet the Cadbury CEO's commitments in regards to sourcing, manufacturing, energy/environment, far trade, human resources and community involvement. As a member of the CEO's global sustainability strategy group and chair of the regional committee, she established and executed the company's policy agenda, which resulted in significant cost savings and better alignment with commercial and supply chain objectives.
As a member of the senior management team at an international public relations agency headquartered in Washington, D.C., Louison led a new global services practice bringing together senior counselors, including former members of Congress and the administration, and U.S. ambassadors. She had a special focus on growing the practice outside of the U.S. - in Russia, Germany and China. In addition, she led successful lobbying campaigns on a range of issues, from food and nutrition to energy taxes.
Prior to that, she served as the head of external affairs at the U.S. Department of Energy, as a lobbyist and policy director on food, energy and agriculture issues for the National Conference of State Legislatures, and as legislative director for two members of Congress with a focus on agriculture, energy and the environment. Louison began her career in public affairs as a program director for the South Dakota State Government.