NEW YORK--Jennifer Cohan is departing her role as New York MD at GolinHarris to become global consumer chair at Edelman.

Cohan succeeds Christina Smedley who left the firm in October to go to PayPal. She will report to Alan VanderMolen, vice chairman of DJE Holdings and president & CEO, global practices.

Edelman's consumer practice accounts for 27 percent of its revenues, employing almost 900 people globally. 

“Consumer public relations is our firm’s heritage and remains our bedrock,” said VanderMolen. “We intend to renew our focus on consumer public relations by integrating digital, insights and ground-breaking creative for brands as diverse as Unilever’s Dove and Trojan.” 

Prior to joining GolinHarris seven years ago, Cohan served as deputy managing director for Cohn & Wolfe’s London operation, after working as consumer practice lead for the firm in New York.

“Jen is the perfect fit to lead our global consumer practice having lived and worked in the US and Europe,” said VanderMolen.