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ARLINGTON, Va. — The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has elected a new chairman — Brian Cornell, the chairman and chief executive officer of Target Corp. Cornell was elected at RILA’s board of directors’ semiannual meeting in Tucson, Ariz., last month. Serving a two-year term, Cornell takes the chairman’s reins from Bill Rhodes, chairman of AutoZone.
“The past year was one of tremendous change in retail, as we saw fundamental shifts in where and how people choose to shop. We also saw firsthand the power of our industry when we find common ground and advocate for consumers,” Cornell said in a statement. “As RILA’s chairman, I’m looking forward to the opportunity to build upon our shared successes and help drive positive change for our customers, our teams and our industry.”
Along with Cornell, four other top executives were elected to the RILA board of directors: Richard Keyes, president and CEO of Meijer Inc.; Gina Boswell, president of customer development at Unilever; Michele Buck, president and CEO of Hershey Co.; and Mark Breitbard, president and CEO of Banana Republic Gap Inc.
“RILA is fortunate to be led by such an exceptional board of directors. Our success is in large part a result of their commitment to collaborate with one another and provide us with critical insights and direction,” RILA president Sandy Kennedy stated. “We’re thrilled to welcome four additional board members this year, and we’re confident that we will continue to accomplish great things under Brian’s leadership.”
Cornell has served as Target’s chairman and CEO since August 2014.