AutoZone's William Rhodes Elected Chairman of RILA Board of Directors

SAN DIEGO, Jan. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) announced today the election of William C. Rhodes, III, chairman, president & chief executive officer of AutoZone as chairman of its Board of Directors. The election occurred at board's semi-annual meeting held in San Diego, CA.

"RILA is a critical partner and effective champion for the retail industry.  In addition to being the retail industry's premier advocate in Washington, DC, members benefit greatly from RILA's unique collaborative forums and educational conferences," said Rhodes. "I am honored to have been elected as chairman and I look forward to working together with this exceptional group of retail leaders to address the important challenges and opportunities before the retail industry."

Rhodes, who previously served as the Board's treasurer, succeeds Robert Niblock, chairman & chief executive officer, Lowe's Companies, Inc., who has served as chairman since 2008. Niblock will remain a member of the Board's Executive Committee serving as immediate past chair.

Other newly elected officers to the RILA Board of Directors include:

• Gregg Steinhafel, Chairman, President & CEO , Target Corporation (Vice Chairman)
• Richard W. Dreiling, Chairman & CEO, Dollar General Corporation (Treasurer)
• Eduardo Castro-Wright, Vice Chairman, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Secretary)

The RILA Board of Directors is comprised of chief executives from 16 of America's largest and most innovative retail companies.  

Also, joining the Board of Directors are:

• Brian J. Dunn, President, CEO & COO, Best Buy Co., Inc.
• Myron E. "Mike" Ullman, Chairman & CEO, J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
• William C. Crowley, Chairman, Sears Canada, Inc.
• Frank Maione, President and Chief Customer Officer, Consumer Sales, Johnson & Johnson

"We are proud to welcome Bill Rhodes as chairman and Bill Crowley, Mike Ullman, Brian Dunn and Frank Maione to the RILA Board. They, along with the entire RILA Board, play a critical role in setting priorities and guiding strategy for the association. Through their high level of engagement, the board provides RILA with valuable insight into the short- and long-term issues facing the retail industry and the support necessary to deliver positive results on behalf of our members," said RILA President Sandy Kennedy.

RILA's strategic focus on issues related to workforce, supply chain, finance, asset protection and issues that span the entire retail enterprise -- including sustainability and privacy -- make it retail's most effective advocate and collaborative force.

The 2010 RILA Board of Directors:

William C. Rhodes, III, Chairman, President & CEO, AutoZone, Inc. (Chairman)

Gregg Steinhafel, Chairman, President & CEO, Target Corporation (Vice Chairman)

Eduardo Castro-Wright, Vice Chairman, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (Secretary)

Richard W. Dreiling, Chairman & CEO, Dollar General Corporation (Treasurer)

Robert A. Niblock, Chairman & CEO, Lowe's Companies, Inc. (Immediate Past Chairman)

Francis S. Blake, Chairman & CEO, The Home Depot Inc.

W. Stephen Cannon, General Counsel, Constantine Cannon LLP
William C. Crowley, Chairman, Sears Canada, Inc.

Brian J. Dunn, President, CEO & COO, Best Buy Co., Inc.

Janet Hoffman, Global Managing Partner - Retail, Accenture

Sally Jewell, President & CEO, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)

Sandra L. Kennedy, President, Retail Industry Leaders Association

Frank Maione, President and Chief Customer Officer, Consumer Sales, Johnson & Johnson

Joseph W. McClanathan, President & CEO, Energizer Household Products, Energizer Holdings, Inc.

Robert Moran, President & Chief Operating Officer, PetSmart, Inc.

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

Michael B. Polk, President, Unilever Americas, Unilever

Myron E. "Mike" Ullman, Chairman & CEO, J.C. Penney Company, Inc.

Gregory D. Wasson, President & CEO, Walgreen Co.

Eric C. Wiseman, Chairman, President & CEO, VF Corporation

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

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