RILA names government counsel as VP of privacy and cyber security

Arlington, Va. - Nicholas Ahrens will join the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) as VP of privacy and cyber security. Joining the association from the Office of the General Counsel at the U.S. Department of Commerce, Ahrens will lead RILA’s privacy and data security agenda and serve as the lead advocate to the government on cyber security, privacy, data security and related issues.



In addition, Ahrens will work on the continued development and implementation of RILA’s Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Initiative. Ahrens, who officially joined RILA Sept. 8, will also staff the RILA Privacy Leaders Council, which is comprised of senior-level executives from America’s largest retailers.



Ahrens joins RILA after four years with the U.S. Department of Commerce serving in a number of senior roles including Counsel to the General Counsel, where he provided legal and policy advice on a number of privacy and cyber security issues. Earlier in his career with the U.S. Department of Commerce, serving as special assistant to the General Counsel, Ahrens worked on the 2012 White House Consumer Data Privacy Blueprint, coordinating efforts for the roll out of the Blueprint in the European Union.



“Nick brings valuable insight into the critical privacy and data security challenges retailers face today,” said RILA president Sandy Kennedy. “His experience will make him an outstanding advocate for the retail industry and we are excited to have him on the RILA team.”