The National Pork Board has named Kevin Waetke as vice president of strategic communications. Waetke recently served as external communications director for Aviva USA, moving to the National Pork Board on June 25. Waetke will play a critical role in defining and leading communications strategy and delivering clear and consistent messages to pork producers, opinion leaders, consumers and other key audiences.

“The national pork industry is at a crossroads, and how we communicate to our audiences, share information and manage our reputation has never been more critical,” said Chris Novak, chief executive officer of the National Pork Board. “We took the time to carefully understand our communications challenges and opportunities and, after conducting a nationwide search, found the ideal candidate to lead communications in our backyard.

Waetke spent the past 10 years leading communications in the financial services industry, having worked the past three years at life insurance and annuity leader Aviva USA, and, prior to that, as the communications director for Wells Fargo Home Mortgage. Waetke also has led public relations for Maytag Corporation, MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company, and Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines. He is also a former news reporter and assignment editor for WHO-TV.

Actively involved in the Des Moines community, Waetke serves on the board of directors of Anawim Housing, on the communications advisory council of the Greater Des Moines Partnership and on the board of the Public Relations Society of America — central Iowa chapter. He has both graduate and undergraduate degrees in journalism and mass communications from Drake University, Des Moines. Waetke and his family live in Johnston, Iowa.