{"id":844,"date":"2012-06-14T12:31:29","date_gmt":"2012-06-14T17:31:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=844"},"modified":"2012-06-14T12:31:29","modified_gmt":"2012-06-14T17:31:29","slug":"exchange-directorceo-takes-helm-of-largest-military-retailer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/publicaffairs-sme.com\/pressrelease\/?p=844","title":{"rendered":"Exchange Director\/CEO Takes Helm of Largest Military Retailer"},"content":{"rendered":"

MEDIA CONTACT:\u00a0Chris Ward
\nMEDIA ADVISORY: 12-031
\nRELEASE DATE:\u00a0June 14,\u00a02012<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

DALLAS \u2013 <\/strong>Three weeks after being named the first civilian Director\/Chief Executive Officer in the nearly 117-year history of the Army & Air Force Exchange Service, Tom Shull officially took the reins today of the $10-billion military retailer<\/a>. Shull replaced the Exchange\u2019s last uniformed Commander, Brig. Gen. Fran Hendricks.<\/p>\n

\u00a0With the official signing of the paperwork today, the Exchange has been disestablished as a major command and remains a joint non-appropriated fund instrumentality (NAFI) of the United States Army and the United States Air Force under the jurisdiction of the Chief of Staff, United States Army and the Chief of Staff, United States Air Force.<\/p>\n

Shull, a West Point graduate who received a Harvard University MBA, served in a variety of positions in the U.S. Army, including infantry company commander and assignments at the White House and National Security Council. He has served as CEO of Wise Foods Inc., Hanover Direct Inc., Barney\u2019s New York and was most recently CEO of Meridian Ventures LLC.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Shull will work with an executive team led by the Exchange\u2019s Chief Operating Officer Mike Howard. Howard has been instrumental in maintaining continuity since March 2011 when the Secretary of Defense issued a memorandum on \u201cTrack Four Efficiency Initiatives Decisions\u201d that were \u201cdesigned to reduce duplication, overhead, and excess, and instill a culture of savings and cost accountability across the Department of Defense.\u201d In accordance with this memo, the Exchange was directed to convert the Commanding General\u2019s position from that of a Major General to a Senior Executive Service civilian.<\/p>\n

The Exchange, ranked 43rd<\/sup> in the National Retail Federation\u2019s Top 100 retailers in the U.S. based on dollar sales, is responsible for more than 3,100 facilities worldwide in more than 30 countries, five U.S. territories and 50 states. The Exchange operates 180 main stores and more than 2,000 fast food restaurants and also provides military communities with convenience, specialty stores and movie theaters on installations worldwide, including locations in Afghanistan.<\/p>\n

— 30 —<\/p>\n

\u00a0The Army & Air Force Exchange Service is a joint non-appropriated fund instrumentality of the Department of Defense and is directed by a Board of Directors which is responsible to the Secretaries of the Army and the Air Force through the Service Chiefs of Staff. \u00a0The Exchange has the dual mission of providing authorized patrons with quality merchandise and services at competitively low prices and generating non-appropriated fund earnings as a supplemental source of funding for military morale, welfare and recreation programs. To find out more about the Exchange history and mission or to view recent press releases please visit our Web site at http:\/\/www.shopmyexchange.com<\/a><\/span>.<\/p>\n

###<\/p>\n

\u00a0Media Notes:<\/strong><\/p>\n

For more information or to schedule an interview with an Exchange representative please contact Chris Ward, 214-312-2714 or wardchr@aafes.com.<\/p>\n\t

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