Michael Hanson, the esteemed Public Affairs representative of RILA SEVP, has announced his retirement.
In a heartfelt farewell, Michael Hanson, the Senior Executive Vice President of Public Affairs at the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), announced his retirement, effective August 30, 2023. During his tenure at RILA, Hanson has been instrumental in strengthening the organisation and positively influencing the wider retail landscape.
Hanson's contributions to RILA have been significant, leading to important victories such as the passage of the INFORM Consumers Act and the prevention of an increase in the corporate tax rate. Under his leadership, RILA has become a powerful voice for retailers, representing more than 200 retailers, product manufacturers, and service suppliers, collectively accounting for over $2.7 trillion in annual sales.
Throughout his career, Hanson has been an advocate for innovation and collaboration, striving to build bridges among policymakers, industry leaders, and stakeholders. He leaves RILA with gratitude for the opportunities, friendships, laughter, and successes he experienced during his time there.
As Hanson steps down, Austen Jensen will take over as the Executive Vice President of Government Affairs at RILA. Jensen has been leading the federal government affairs team at RILA since 2019, and his role involves leading government affairs efforts, including advocacy on tax policy and regulatory issues critical to the retail industry.
Before joining RILA, Jensen spent more than a decade working in the U.S. House of Representatives, serving as chief of staff for Rep. Patrick McHenry, R-N.C. He has also held roles such as legislative counsel to Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich.
Evan Armstrong, who joined RILA in 2016, has been spearheading RILA's advocacy efforts related to workforce and employment issues. Armstrong's role within the organisation is not as publicly visible at the moment, with more detailed or updated information about his current role yet to be made available.
RILA's membership includes millions of American jobs and hundreds of thousands of stores, manufacturing facilities, and distribution centers. With Hanson's retirement, Jensen and Armstrong are poised to continue RILA's mission of advocating for the retail industry and ensuring a favourable business environment for its members.
Brian Dodge, president and CEO of RILA, praised Hanson's dedication and contributions to the retail industry, expressing gratitude for his service and wishing him a happy retirement. Hanson, in turn, is proud of the accomplishments he and his team achieved at RILA.
As RILA moves forward, the focus will be on continuing to advocate for the retail industry, ensuring a favourable business environment, and driving innovation and collaboration. With Jensen at the helm of government affairs and Armstrong continuing his work on workforce and employment issues, RILA is well-positioned to meet these challenges and continue its mission.
Hanson's tenure at RILA, marked by significant victories in finance and business policies, will be succeeded by Austen Jensen, who will lead government affairs, focusing on critical tax and regulatory issues. Now, with Jensen and Armstrong at the helm, RILA continues its mission of advocacy for the retail industry, striving for a favorable business environment and fostering innovation and collaboration.
