Retail Trade Associations NRF and RILA to Merge; NRF CEO to Retire
Friday, June 19, 2009, 4:30 p.m., EDT
 National Retail Federation and Retail Industry Leaders Association reported in April that both trade association’s executive committees unanimously agreed in principle to merge, creating a single trade association representing retail interests. “This is a historic time for our history,” said RILA Chairman Robert Niblock and NRF Chairman Myron Ullman III in a joint statement. “The challenges and opportunities before our members are unprecedented. Now is the right time to bring these associations together.”
According to NRF and RILA, the (unnamed, as of press time) organization will benefit both associations’ members and create a single voice to advance the retail industry and its more than 15 million workers. NRF and RILA expect the merger to be completed by the summer.
Representatives from both associations are developing details of the merger. Both board of directors must recommend the merger, and both memberships must approve it.
Following the merger announcement, Tracy Mullin, NRF president and CEO since 1993, said she would retire in late 2009. Last year Mullin told NRF’s leadership of her plans to retire, but the news was not made public until now.
In a letter sent to NRF membership, Mullin wrote: “I will never lose my love of retailing, and it’s bittersweet to move on. After assisting NRF through this transition period, I look forward to tackling some new projects and embarking on new adventures.”
Highlights of Mullin’s tenure include:
- Moving NRF headquarters from New York City, where it was based since 1911, to Washington, establishing a new mission and building an entirely new staff.
- Repositioning the organization from a department store group to one that represents all retail formats and sectors in the United States and abroad.
- Tripling the annual budget from $12 million to $35 million.
- Expanding NRF internationally.
Before being elected CEO, Mullin held a series of positions of increasing responsibility at NRF. Prior to joining NRF, Mullin was a senior legislative advisor to the U.S. Senate’s minority leader.
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Retail Trade Associations NRF and RILA to Merge; NRF CEO to Retire
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