NRF announces merger with RILA, retirement of president, CEO

WASHINGTON The National Retail Federation and the Retail Industry Leaders Association on Tuesday announced a merger that will create a single trade association representing retail interests in the nation’s capital.

The new organization will provide enhanced value to both RILA and NRF’s members and help to ensure that the retail industry speaks with a one voice to advance the industry and its more than 15 million workers, the associations stated.

RILA president Sandy Kennedy will be handling the merger transition. NRF president and CEO Tracy Mullin will retire.

Completion of the merger requires that both NRF and RILA submit to a thorough due diligence process. The details of the merger are being developed by representatives from RILA and NRF. Both associations’ boards of directors must recommend the merger, and both memberships must approve it.

Both RILA and NRF expect the process to be completed by this summer.

“On behalf of [the Food Marketing Institute], I wish [Mullin] much success in her future endeavors; her leadership and representation of the retail industry will be missed by all of us,” stated Leslie Sarasin, president and CEO of FMI. “It will be my pleasure to continue working collaboratively with [Kennedy] on critical industry issues before Congress and the Obama Administration, as well as to support the leadership of the new organization that emerges.”