The NRF Foundation, the non-profit arm of the National Retail Federation, announced that Mindy Grossman, CEO, HSNi, was elected as the new chair of its Board of Directors for a two-year term. Ms. Grossman replaces Kip Tindell, chairman and CEO of The Container Store, who has served as the Foundation’s chairman since January 2010.
Since 2006, Ms. Grossman has led the transformation of HSNi into a lifestyle network, diversifying its portfolio of brands and personalities and fusing relationships between the entertainment and retail communities.
She has evolved the traditional TV network into a multiplatform business and today, HSN.com is a top-ten most trafficked e-commerce site, with digital accounting for more than 35 percent of HSN's total revenues. Prior to taking HSNi public in 2008, Ms. Grossman had been chief executive officer of IAC Retailing, a division of Interactive Corporation.
A 35-year veteran of the retail industry, Ms. Grossman previously served as a corporate officer and global vice president of Nike, Inc., and led Nike’s $4 billion apparel business from 2000 to 2006.
In 2012, Forbes magazine named Ms. Grossman one of the world’s 100 most powerful women, an honor she has received three times. In 2011, she was named Corporate Innovator of the Year at the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Florida Awards, and was recognized as one of Fast Company's Top 100 Most Creative People in Business.
“With over three decades of retail experience, Mindy is a perfect example of the opportunities that exist within our industry. I can’t think of anyone better suited to guide the NRF Foundation as we begin our journey to cultivate the next generation of retail leaders,” said NRF Foundation Executive Director Ellen Davis.
“As we continue to create initiatives that center on retail as a career, we are excited about the level of expertise and commitment to retail that our new Board members bring to the table. We are also especially grateful for the leadership, support and time that Kip has given to the NRF Foundation these last three years.”
In addition to a new chairman, three new executives were elected to serve on the NRF Foundation Board of Directors, including:
• Bill Brand, executive vice president of programming, marketing and business development, HSN
• Audrey Robertson, vice president of cultural programs, community relations and social media, The Container Store, Inc.
• Anne Voller, vice president of talent acquisition, Macy’s, Inc.
The NRF Foundation promotes retailing as an attractive career path while developing and cultivating the next generation of retail leaders through partnerships with universities, professional certification programs, and workforce training. Through its research and education initiatives, the NRF Foundation provides data and information about the importance of retail to the economy.
It also oversees the Ray M. Greenly scholarship fund, which provides scholarships to deserving college students nationwide. The NRF Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit arm of the National Retail Federation and is funded in part by generous donations from retail industry supporters.
