"As we begin a new year and a new chapter for the industry, John’s extensive industry experience and knowledge will guide NRF and retailers large and small into a new era of innovation."
WASHINGTON– The National Retail Federation today announced Walmart U.S. President and CEO John Furner has been elected chairman of the NRF Board of Directors. Furner replaces former Qurate Retail, Inc. President and CEO Mike George, who has served in the role since 2020.
“We are grateful to Mike George for his exceptional leadership as chairman of NRF over the last two years. His guidance and insights have been critical to NRF and our industry as we navigated the pandemic, successfully advocated for critical legislation and ensured that retailers had the tools they needed to overcome the enormous challenges they faced throughout the last two years,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said.
“We are extremely fortunate to gain John’s leadership at this pivotal point, as retailers move beyond the pandemic,” Shay said. “As we begin a new year and a new chapter for the industry, John’s extensive industry experience and knowledge will guide NRF and retailers large and small into a new era of innovation.”
“Retailers are the lifeblood of local communities, serving millions of customers each day with the items they need and much more,” Furner said. “Our industry is uniquely positioned to ignite economic growth and positive change in neighborhoods big and small. I look forward to leading the NRF Board during this consequential time, and I’m confident we’ll all continue to rise to the occasion.”
In addition, Bloomingdale’s Chairman and CEO Tony Spring will join the NRF board for a two-year term.
The NRF Board of Directors, composed of the retail industry’s leading executives who serve as the governing body for the world’s largest retail trade association, held its annual winter meeting today during NRF 2022: Retail’s Big Show.
View the full list of NRF Board of Directors.
About NRF
The National Retail Federation, the world’s largest retail trade association, passionately advocates for the people, brands, policies and ideas that help retail thrive. From its headquarters in Washington, D.C., NRF empowers the industry that powers the economy. Retail is the nation’s largest private-sector employer, contributing $3.9 trillion to annual GDP and supporting one in four U.S. jobs — 52 million working Americans. For over a century, NRF has been a voice for every retailer and every retail job, educating, inspiring and communicating the powerful impact retail has on local communities and global economies. nrf.com