The National Restaurant Association, typically the industry’s strongest voice on legislative and regulatory matters, has hired a new chief lobbyist: Cicely Simpson, head of government affairs for Dunkin’ Brands Group.
Simpson will join the NRA as executive vice president of government affairs and policy on May 13, reporting to president and CEO Dawn Sweeney.
She succeeds Scott DeFife, who left the association in March.
Before joining Dunkin’ Brands, the parent company of Dunkin’ Donuts and Baskin-Robbins, Simpson was the legislative director for U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper. She holds a law degree from Pepperdine University.
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