Catherine O’Brien is Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs, Regulatory, Government Relations, and Sustainability for Nestlé Canada. In this capacity, Catherine is responsible for corporate reputation management including internal communications, stakeholder relations, media relations, issues management, government relations, Creating Shared Value programs and community partnerships. She also oversees the Regulatory and Consumer Wellness team and is responsible for management of the company’s Environmental Sustainability strategy and programs.
Catherine joined Nestlé Canada in 2003 and prior to that, she was an Associate Director of Corporate Affairs at Bell Canada, focused on issues management and corporate social responsibility initiatives. Catherine has also worked in the financial services industry leading Corporate Communications for Maritime Life (formerly Aetna Canada) and began her career working in public relations at St. Joseph’s Health Centre in Toronto.
Catherine has a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in English from Carleton University and a diploma in Advertising and Public Relations from St. Lawrence College in Kingston, Ontario.
She is actively involved in numerous committees for Food Health and Consumer Products Canada, the Association of Canadian Advertisers and other industry committees and initiatives. She is Chair of the Board of Directors of the Canada Plastic Pact and a member of the Board of Directors of Circular Materials. In 2020 she was recognized as a leader in the Canadian food industry as a Star Woman of Grocery.