NRF Names Matt Shay President and CEO

March 17, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Executive Changes on March 18, 2010

The National Retail Federation announced Wednesday that it has named Matt Shay president and chief executive officer.

Shay joins NRF from the International Franchise Association where he served as president and CEO. He succeeds Tracy Mullin, who is retiring after 17 years as NRF's CEO. IFA represents more than 1300 franchise companies around the world, including a number of retail firms.

"Matt brings a deep level of knowledge and experience that will be very beneficial to NRF and its members," said NRF Chairman Terry Lundgren. "He has the leadership skills, energy and enthusiasm necessary to guide this organization confidently into the future, and I look forward to working with him on the issues and projects that lie ahead."

Shay began his career at the Ohio Council of Retail Merchants after receiving his undergraduate degree from Wittenberg University and his law degree from Ohio State University. He joined the IFA in 1993 and served in several positions of increasing responsibility including vice president and director of government relations, senior vice president and chief counsel, and executive vice president and COO. He was named IFA resident in 2004 and added the title of CEO in 2007.

"I am thrilled to have the opportunity to collaborate with NRF's outstanding Board of Directors and staff in leading such a dynamic and influential association," said Shay. "Retail is the lifeblood of our economy and with the challenges we face on Capitol Hill, the stakes have never been higher. There is a lot of work to be done, and I'm very excited to get started."

The National Retail Federation is the world's largest retail trade association, with membership that comprises all retail formats and channels of distribution including department, specialty, discount, catalog, Internet, independent stores, chain restaurants, drug stores and grocery stores as well as the industry's key trading partners of retail goods and services. NRF represents an industry with more than 1.6 million U.S. retail companies, more than 24 million employees  and 2009 sales of $4.1 trillion. As the industry umbrella group, NRF also represents more than 100 state, national and international retail associations.