Washington D.C. — After 38 years with the Consumer Federation of America, long-time consumer and auto safety advocate, Jack Gillis, will be retiring as CFA’s Executive Director in January 2022. Gillis has been with CFA since 1983, serving as Director of Public Affairs and, since 2018, as Executive Director. “Jack Gillis has been instrumental in successfully maintaining CFA’s leadership on a wide variety of consumer protection, financial services, housing, privacy, food, and safety issues,” said the President of CFA’s Board, Marceline White of the Maryland Consumer Rights Coalition.
CFA President White has announced the formation of a Transition Committee made up of representatives of CFA’s Board, Executive Committee and staff. “We are pleased that Jack will remain as CEO during the search for a replacement,” said White.
“During his long tenure at CFA Jack has not only been CFA’s main conduit between the organization and the media, but over the years he has led CFA’s efforts in child and product safety, indoor air quality, consumer education, auto sales practices and, most significantly, auto safety. As a well-known consumer advocate, Gillis is author, co-author and editor of 75 consumer books including The Car Book, published for 40 consecutive years. He served for ten years as a contributing consumer correspondent for NBC’s Today Show representing CFA, was Good Housekeeping’s personal finance columnist, and was a child product safety columnist at Child Magazine,” said White.
“Gillis’ advocacy has been responsible for major changes in the automobile industry, including significantly improved vehicle safety, better warranties, and increased fuel efficiency. Early in his career, The New York Times featured Gillis as a leader in a new breed of consumer advocates. He was an adjunct professor at The George Washington University, where he taught in the Graduate School of Government and Business Administration, and he currently serves on the boards of the Center for Auto Safety (chair), Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Center for the Study of Services (Consumers’ Checkbook) and CAPA. Previously, he was Executive Director of the Certified Automotive Parts Association, a non-profit standard setting organization. He received his MBA from The George Washington University where he served as a Teaching Fellow and his BA from the University of Notre Dame,” added White.
“Serving the Consumer Federation of America for all of these years has truly been an honor. It has enabled me to work closely with some of America’s greatest consumer and safety advocates, men and women who have truly changed America for the better. Any success that I’ve had at CFA rests squarely on the shoulders of these remarkable activists. As it enters its 54th year, CFA has a very exciting future ahead and I will always cherish being a small part of its distinguished history,” said Jack Gillis.
Contact: Marceline White, marceline@marylandconsumers.org