Committee for Economic Development Announces New President & CEO

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Committee for Economic Development (CED), a non-profit, non-partisan business-led public policy organization, is pleased to announce the selection of Steve Odland as the new President & CEO of CED. He succeeds Charles Kolb who stepped down as CED President in July.

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Mr. Odland has an extensive business background, serving as Chairman & CEO of Office Depot, Inc. from 2005-2010; Chairman, President & CEO of AutoZone, Inc. from 2001 until 2005; and President & CEO of Tops Markets, Inc. from 1998 to 2000. Most recently, Mr. Odland also served as an Adjunct Professor in the graduate schools of business at Florida Atlantic University and Lynn University.

"I am very pleased that Steve Odland has agreed to join CED as President and CEO," notes Roger W. Ferguson, Jr., CED Co-Chair and President and Chief Executive Officer of TIAA-CREF. "His experience as a CEO and deep interest in public policy make Steve a natural leader for CED, an organization that seeks to bring the best of business thinking to solving the nation's challenges."

"Steve Odland brings to CED an extensive background in business, leading major companies through highly challenging economic environments," notes Don Peterson, CED Co-Chair and Former Chairman and CEO of Avaya, Inc. "Steve long has been an advocate for policies that promote and advance the business community and economic growth."

Mr. Odland also possesses a strong policy background. From 2004 to 2006, he was Chairman of the Business Roundtable's Corporate Governance Task Force. Previously, Odland was a U.S. Presidential appointee as a Commissioner on the National Surface Transportation Policy and Revenue Study Commission; a member of the Committee on Capital Markets Regulation; a U.S. Presidential Appointee on the Council on Service and Civic Participation; and a member of the Advisory Council of the Institute for Corporate Ethics.

"I am honored to join the Committee for Economic Development, an organization celebrating its 70^th year of addressing national priorities that promote sustained economic growth and development to benefit all Americans," said Odland. "I look forward to working with the CED Board, Trustees, staff and partner organizations to move CED toward a century of championing sound policy and advocacy around education, fiscal reform, corporate governance, investment in the American workforce, and more."

Mr. Odland holds a bachelor's degree in business administration from the University of Notre Dame and a master's degree in management from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University.

About CED
CED is a non-profit, non-partisan business-led public policy organization. CED conducts research on major economic and social issues and actively informs and engages the business community in an effort to achieve policy reform for the good of the nation. Membership is made up of some 200 senior corporate executives and university leaders who lead CED's research and outreach efforts.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Sarabeth Stone
202.469.7831
[email protected]

SOURCE Committee for Economic Development