RILA Board of Directors Meets in Washington 

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) hosted its semi-annual Board of Directors meeting this week in Washington DC.

The RILA board meets twice a year to provide their personal insight into how best to address the opportunities and challenges facing the retail industry and its customers.  Yesterday’s meeting included presentations from House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) and White House National Economic Council Director Larry Summers.

Additionally, three board members were re-elected to two year terms;

• Robert Moran, President & CEO, PetSmart, Inc.
• Michael Polk, President of the America’s, Unilever
• William Rhodes Chairman, President & CEO, AutoZone Inc.

Mr. Rhodes also serves as Treasurer of the Board. 

“We had a productive and insightful bi-annual meeting and we were honored to have Minority Whip Cantor and Director Summers join us and share their thoughts with this distinguished group of CEO’s. Through their high level of engagement RILA’s Board of Directors provides unparalleled insight and expertise into the issues facing the retail industry,” said RILA President Sandy Kennedy.

In addition to those re-elected, the 2009 RILA Board of Directors is:

Robert A. Niblock, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Lowe's Companies, Inc. (Chairman)

Gregg Steinhafel, President & Chief Executive Officer, Target Corporation (Vice Chairman)

Eduardo Castro-Wright, President & Chief Executive Officer, Wal-Mart U.S.; Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.

Richard W. Dreiling, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Dollar General Corporation

Sally Jewell, President & Chief Executive Officer, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)

Sandra L. Kennedy, President, Retail Industry Leaders Association

Joseph W. McClanathan, President & Chief Executive Officer, Energizer Battery; Energizer Holdings, Inc.

James M. Myers, Chief Executive Officer, PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.

Eric C. Wiseman, President & Chief Executive Officer, VF Corporation

Don Soderquist(Ex-Officio Member), Founder, Soderquist Center for Leadership and Ethics

For more information on RILA’s board of directors, visit www.rila.org. 

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) promotes consumer choice and economic freedom through public policy and industry operational excellence. Its members include retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers--which together provide millions of jobs and operate more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

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