RILA Names Product Safety Initiative Head

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has hired Jim Neill as VP for product safety. Neill, who joined the trade group Feb. 4, will oversee the new RILA/British Retail Consortium global safety standard for consumer products.

The new partnership, which rolled out earlier this year, will develop a meaningful worldwide manufacturing standard for consumer goods. The initiative furthers the retail industry’s aim of complementing existing product safety requirements by addressing safety protocols for manufacturer and supplier operations.

"Jim's extensive background working with government and industry make him uniquely qualified to lead development and implementation of the RILA/BRC global safety standard," noted RILA president Sandy Kennedy.

Neill has over 13 years of experience working in and with the legislative and executive branches of government. His most recent position was assistant VP, corporate affairs for the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). In that capacity, Neill led the organization's product safety coalition.

Before his time at NAM, Neill was director of convention committees for the 2004 Republican National Convention, and prior to that worked for former Sens. Bill Frist (R-Tenn.) and Spencer Abraham (R-Mich.) as well as former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy G. Thompson.