Kelly Leighton

Kelly is a strategic marketing and communications executive with more than two decades of leadership experience spanning brand development, stakeholder engagement and business growth. Her formative years on her grandparents’ farm and canning operation in Georgia sparked a lifelong interest in how food is grown, processed and brought to market – a curiosity that evolved into a career dedicated to honest communication and authentic storytelling.

Today, Kelly serves as the Executive Director of The Center for Food Integrity (CFI), a not-for-profit dedicated to building consumer trust in our food system through research, strategy and stakeholder engagement. In this role, she leads CFI’s efforts in cultivating partnerships and building strategies that help organizations throughout the food system connect with key audiences and build confidence in their industry and brand.

Now based near Minneapolis, she enjoys running around Lake Minnetonka and spending time outdoors with her family. Kelly remains dedicated to championing meaningful dialogue, building trust and shaping a more transparent future for food and agriculture.

Office Location

Minneapolis

Career Background

Kelly’s professional trajectory has been shaped by collaborations with industry leaders – including global agribusiness, consumer packaged goods companies and emerging brands – where she developed marketing initiatives rooted in transparent storytelling and values-based messaging. With more than 20 years of experience, Kelly has developed brand and engagement strategies for leading organizations including The Coca-Cola Company, Cargill, Ecolab, Turner Broadcasting and a range of CPG and agribusiness brands. She is known for managing complex projects, guiding cross-functional teams and designing strategies that humanize brands while delivering measurable results.   Whether orchestrating large-scale marketing campaigns or spearheading stakeholder engagement programs, Kelly’s approach is grounded in aligning people, purpose and strategic objectives. She credits her early farm experiences for her passion for integrity in the food chain – translating the “how” into the “why,” and connecting organizations with the audiences that matter most.

Awards and Accomplishments

Kelly holds both a bachelor’s and a master’s degree from the University of Georgia, where she also competed as a middle-distance runner.

Stages and Presentations

Kelly routinely presents shared values communication training with food and agriculture organizations. Renowned for her bold yet balanced leadership style, Kelly thrives on motivating teams to tackle challenges head-on while fostering a culture of respect and collaboration. She credits her early farm experiences for her passion for integrity in the food chain – translating the “how” into the “why,” and connecting organizations with the audiences that matter most.