Peggy Renken Hudson, an experienced lobbyist and former BP global affairs executive, joined the Direct Marketing Association’s (DMA) Washington, D.C., office, where she will take over for longtime SVP of Government Affairs Jerry Cerasale. He brings nearly two decades at DMA to a close when he retires at the end of the year.
During her career, Hudson led lobbying for several noteworthy initiatives, including three comprehensive energy bills, legislation on airport and highway construction, and a bill supporting the Alaska Gas Pipeline. She is an accomplished public speaker and has made several appearances on C-SPAN and CNN.
Hudson chaired the American Petroleum Institute’s Tax Committee and worked with diplomats and government leaders in China, Russia, Trinidad, and the UK, among other nations as VP of federal and international affairs for BP America. Washingtonian magazine once featured the founder of the lobbying firm Hudson Global Strategies as one of the “Top 100” women leaders in the Capitol.
“Peggy has a distinguished track record advocating for necessary legislation, building bridges, and formulating policy strategy for a wide variety of businesses and industries,” said Linda A. Woolley, DMA president and CEO. “Her extensive experience with the media and public speaking will prove beneficial—particularly at a time when this industry is in need of widespread understanding and clarity about what we do.”
Cerasale will spend his final months at DMA helping Hudson transition into her new role. “He has been an invaluable asset to the association and to the entire data-driven marketing community,” Woolley noted. “We will all miss Jerry.”
