The National Retail Federation (NRF) elected two new members to its Board of Directors during its virtual summer board meeting. The new members are Hal Lawton, president and CEO, Tractor Supply Company, and Anish Melwani, chairman and CEO, LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Inc.

They will both serve a two-year term until June 2022.

“Hal Lawton and Anish Melwani have shown exceptional leadership during the past few months as our country and the retail industry have faced the coronavirus pandemic and heightened racial injustice,” said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. “Their involvement with the NRF board will be instrumental as we work to reopen businesses, bringing the economy with them, and get America back to work.”

Hal Lawton joined Tractor Supply Company in January 2020, just prior to the coronavirus spreading in the United States. As an essential retailer, Tractor Supply has remained open through the pandemic. Under Lawton’s leadership, the company has taken more than 100 actions in response to the pandemic with an emphasis on the health and safety of its team members and customers, while enhancing and accelerating investments to position the company to emerge stronger than before the crisis. A 15-year retail veteran with experience at Macy’s, eBay and The Home Depot, Lawton led Tractor Supply to be the first national retailer to convert pandemic appreciation bonuses for its front-line team members to permanent wage increases and added benefits, including the offering of medical and other benefits for part-time team employees and equity ownership grants for store managers.

Anish Melwani was appointed chairman and CEO, LVMH Inc. in January 2016 and leads all LVMH activities in North America. In addition to accelerating growth and development opportunities for LVMH brands, Melwani has also been recognized for taking a corporate stand to fight bias and to help its brands promote equality.

Graphic courtesy NRF