Trade, Antitrust, and 2020 Priorities Discussed by the Incoming RILA President
Brian Dodge, a seasoned political and lobbying professional, has taken over as president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) starting January 1, 2020. His appointment was not a surprise, given the support and mentorship he received from current president Sandy Kennedy and the RILA board.
Dodge joins RILA at a critical juncture for retail and the policy environment surrounding it. The pace of change in the retail industry, including the rise of e-commerce and omnichannel shopping, has kept him interested and surprised.
RILA, which represents large retailers and brands such as Walmart, Target, Nike, and The Home Depot, among others, is actively participating in the discussion around competition and technology platforms. Earlier this year, RILA filed a letter with the Federal Trade Commission examining Amazon's market power in product search and online third-party marketplaces.
Upon joining RILA, Dodge discovered that the organization deals with a wide range of issues due to the size and scope of the retail industry. He has a background in politics and lobbying, working for two governors, on Capitol Hill, and in Massachusetts politics before joining RILA.
One of Dodge's main priorities as the new president is to advance retail innovation. He aims to transform the environment in which retailers operate, with a focus on removing tariffs and expanding trading relationships around the world in 2020. Retailers are facing rapid changes in tariff policy and are adapting to an industry landscape that shifts quickly.
Dodge also plans to advocate for pro-growth policies and enhance supply chain resilience in the coming years. Retailers are investing resources to keep pace with e-commerce giant Amazon, which is not a RILA member.
RILA is concerned with practices that suppress access to information about competitors' prices, utilize information in a way that's self-dealing, or are unseemly and problematic from an antitrust standpoint. The organization believes that technology has changed the way antitrust law and antitrust enforcement should be looked at.
Workforce issues are a big policy priority for RILA, particularly understanding the needs of retailers to access the gig economy. Diversity and inclusion is a non-policy focus for RILA, with a community of 35 companies discussing unique attributes of diversity for retail and lessons that can be brought to other key communities.
Sandy Kennedy will continue to serve as a consultant for the next year. Dodge expects to spend most of his time aligning the work of RILA with its new mission and key goals. He was drawn to RILA due to its fast-paced team and narrow set of members.
RILA's FTC letter states that its intent is not to level criticisms against businesses that have been successful in a truly competitive market. The interview with Brian Dodge has been edited for length and clarity. RILA is also involved in discussions around competition and technology platforms, and is concerned with practices that could potentially harm competition.
In addition, RILA has a community of 35 companies discussing unique attributes of diversity for retail and lessons that can be brought to other key communities. Diversity and inclusion is a non-policy focus for RILA.
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