Target's Gregg Steinhafel Elected Chairman of RILA Board of Directors

NAPLES, Fla., Jan. 23, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) today announced the election of Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president & chief executive officer of Target Corporation, as chairman of its Board of Directors. The election occurred at the Board's semi-annual meeting held Sunday in Naples, FL.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as chairman of this exceptional group of industry leaders," said Steinhafel. "Along with the rest of the Board of Directors, I value RILA and its efforts to champion issues that affect our industry, our workforce and our customers."

Steinhafel, who previously served as the Board's vice chairman, succeeds Bill Rhodes, chairman, president & chief executive officer, AutoZone, Inc., who has served as chairman since 2010. Rhodes will remain a member of the Board's Executive Committee, serving as immediate past chairman.

RILA's newly elected officers to the RILA Board of Directors are:

• Gregg Steinhafel Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, Target Corporation (Chairman)
• Richard Dreiling, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Dollar General Corporation (Vice Chairman)
• Gregory Wasson, Chief Executive Officer & President, Walgreen Co. (Second Vice Chairman)
• Eric Wiseman, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, VF Corporation (Treasurer)
• Robert Niblock, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Lowe's Companies, Inc. (Secretary)
• Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, AutoZone, Inc. (Immediate Past Chairman)

The RILA Board of Directors is comprised of chief executives from 18 of America's largest and most innovative retail companies. 

Also, Walter Robb, co-chief executive officer of Whole Foods Market and Alan Hoskins, president & CEO, Energizer Households Products were elected to the board for a two year term.

"RILA benefits tremendously from its highly engaged and strategic Board of Directors. Their valuable insight into the short- and long-term issues facing the retail industry is critical to our ability to deliver on the industry's behalf," said RILA President Sandy Kennedy. 

The 2012 RILA Board of Directors:

• Gregg Steinhafel, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, Target Corporation (Chairman)
• Richard Dreiling, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Dollar General Corporation (Vice Chairman)
• Gregory Wasson, Chief Executive Officer & President, Walgreen Co. (Second Vice Chairman)
• Eric Wiseman, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, VF Corporation (Treasurer)
• Robert Niblock, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, Lowe's Companies, Inc. (Secretary)
• Bill Rhodes, Chairman, President & Chief Executive Officer, AutoZone, Inc. (Immediate Past Chairman)  
• Francis Blake, Chairman & Chief Executive Officer, The Home Depot, Inc.
• Lou D'Ambrosio, President and Chief Executive Officer, Sears Holding Corporation
• Joe DePinto, President and Chief Executive Officer, 7-Eleven
• Brian Dunn, Chief Executive Officer, President & Chief Operating Officer, Best Buy Co., Inc.
• Sally Jewell, President & Chief Executive Officer, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)
• Karen Lowe, General Manager, Global Retail Industry, IBM Corporation  
• Alan Hoskins, President & Chief Executive Officer, Energizer Holdings, Inc., Energizer Household Products
• Eugenio Minvielle, President & CEO, North America, Unilever
• Robert  Moran, President & Chief Executive Officer, PetSmart, Inc.
• James Myers, Chief Executive Officer, PETCO Animal Supplies, Inc.
• Steven  Preston, Executive Vice President, Finance, Recycling & Energy Services, Waste Management
• Walter Robb, Co-Chief Executive Officer, Whole Foods Market, Inc.
• William Simon, President & Chief Executive Officer, Walmart U.S., Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
• Sandy Kennedy, President, Retail Industry Leaders Association 

RILA has been at the forefront of the issues most important to the retail industry. Specifically, RILA has been recognized as the strategic leader behind the campaign to reform debit card swipe fees. In 2011, RILA launched a campaign to end the unfair advantage online-only retailers have over Main Street retailers as it relates to sales tax collection. This e-fairness campaign resulted in a number of states taking action to level the playing field. Success in the states has translated into bipartisan momentum in Congress to pass a comprehensive federal solution in 2012.

RILA is the trade association of the world's largest and most innovative retail companies. RILA members include more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, which together account for more than $1.5 trillion in annual sales, millions of American jobs and more than 100,000 stores, manufacturing facilities and distribution centers domestically and abroad.

SOURCE Retail Industry Leaders Association

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