Consumer Reports Names Jessica Rich, Former Director Of The Federal Trade Commission's Bureau Of Consumer Protection, To Lead Consumer Policy And Mobilization

YONKERS, N.Y., May 3, 2017 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Consumer Reports (CR), the world's largest independent non-profit consumer organization, today named Jessica Rich, former director of the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) Bureau of Consumer Protection, as Vice President of Consumer Policy and Mobilization.

With more than 25 years at the FTC, Rich is widely recognized as one of the most knowledgeable and well-respected consumer champions in the U.S. In her new role, Rich will lead the consumer policy and mobilization efforts of Consumer Reports as it addresses the most urgent threats and pain points consumers face today, such as data privacy and security, health care costs, food safety, corporate accountability, and fairness and transparency in financial markets. She joins CR as the non-profit continues to transform itself to best define and drive a new era of consumer power and protection in today's dynamic and complex digital economy.

"For years, Jessica has stood out as one of the country's most effective and visible leaders when it comes to vital consumer issues such as privacy, data security, and financial services," said Marta L. Tellado, CR's President and CEO.  "We are thrilled to welcome her to our team, where her deep experience and commitment to doing right by consumers will be instrumental in empowering communities around those and other issues, and in advancing the transformation underway at CR."

Rich said, "I am excited to be joining the CR team, whose unstinting and legendary dedication to advancing consumer power is evolving to meet new and growing threats to consumers. Consumers face new challenges daily – from the personal privacy and security implications of emerging technologies, to efforts by government to roll back critical safeguards. I am eager to support CR's mission to improve the responsiveness of both the marketplace and policymakers."

As Bureau Director at the FTC, Rich oversaw over 450 attorneys, investigators, and other staff working to protect consumers by enforcing the consumer protection laws, educating consumers and businesses, and spearheading policy initiatives. During Rich's 4-year tenure, her team initiated nearly 400 law enforcement actions aimed at stopping fraud, false advertising, and privacy invasions, resulting in billions of dollars recovered for consumers who had been harmed.  Rich also took action to sharpen the agency's technological expertise – for example, establishing a new Office of Technology Research and Investigations to improve the agency's ability to serve consumers around issues such as the Internet of Things and mobile apps.  Earlier in her career, Rich was the long-time manager of the FTC's growing privacy program, and she is widely credited with building the program from a small team to the signature program that it is today. 

Prior to joining the FTC, Rich was a lawyer in private practice in New York City. She is a graduate of Harvard University and the New York University School of Law.

For more information about CR, visit: www.ConsumerReports.org.

About Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports is the world's largest and most trusted nonprofit, consumer organization working to improve the lives of consumers by driving marketplace change. Founded in 1936, Consumer Reports has achieved substantial gains for consumers on health reform, food and product safety, financial reform, and other issues. The organization has advanced important policies to cut hospital-acquired infections, prohibit predatory lending practices and combat dangerous toxins in food. Consumer Reports tests and rates thousands of products and services in its 50-plus labs, state-of-the-art auto test center and consumer research center. Consumers Union, a division of Consumer Reports, works for pro-consumer laws and regulations in Washington, D.C., the states, and in the marketplace. With more than eight million subscribers to its flagship magazine, website and other publications, Consumer Reports accepts no advertising, payment or other support from the companies whose products it evaluates.

© 2017 Consumer Reports. The material above is intended for legitimate news entities only; it may not be used for advertising or promotional purposes. Consumer Reports^® is an expert, independent nonprofit organization whose mission is to work for a fair, just, and safe marketplace for all consumers and to empower consumers to protect themselves. We accept no advertising and pay for all the products we test. We are not beholden to any commercial interest. Our income is derived from the sale of Consumer Reports^®, ConsumerReports.org^® and our other publications and information products, services, fees, and noncommercial contributions and grants. Our Ratings and reports are intended solely for the use of our readers. Neither the Ratings nor the reports may be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose without our permission. Consumer Reports will take all steps open to it to prevent commercial use of its materials, its name, or the name of Consumer Reports^®.

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SOURCE Consumer Reports

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