RILA names AutoZone’s Rhodes chairman

RILA names AutoZoneÆs Rhodes chairman    The Retail Industry Leaders Association on Tuesday appointed William C. Rhodes III, chairman, president and chief executive officer of AutoZone, to board chairman.
   The election occurred at the board's semi-annual meeting held in San Diego, Calif.

Rhodes

   '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 said in a statement.

Niblock

   Rhodes, who previously served as the RILA board's treasurer, succeeds Robert Niblock, chairman and CEO of Lowes Cos., who has served as chairman since 2008. Niblock will remain a member of the board's Executive Committee, serving as immediate past chairman.
   Other newly elected officers to the RILA board are:
   ' Gregg Steinhafel, chairman, president and CEO of Target Corp., as vice chairman.
   ' Richard W. Dreiling, chairman and CEO of Dollar General Corp., as treasurer.
   ' Eduardo Castro-Wright, vice chairman of Wal-Mart Stores, as secretary.
   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 internationally.