Kirt Johnson joins RILA as VP for Tax Policy

The Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) announced today that Kirt Johnson will join the association as Vice President for Tax Policy.

An expert with nearly 30 years of experience navigating tax policy on Capitol Hill and in the private sector, Johnson will lead RILA’s tax agenda, including the pursuit of comprehensive tax reform. Johnson will also provide support to RILA’s aggressive campaign to level the playing field in terms of sales tax collection between Main Street retailers and their online competitors.

Johnson, who officially joins RILA this week, will also staff the RILA Tax Committee, which is comprised of senior-level tax executives from America’s largest retailers.

“We are pleased to welcome Kirt Johnson to our team. As a seasoned expert in tax policy with outstanding legislative and professional experience, Kirt brings invaluable leadership, talent and insight to our organization and will be a strong advocate for the retail industry,” said RILA President Sandy Kennedy.

Johnson has spent more than two decades on Capitol Hill serving in a number of senior roles including tenures as Chief of Staff and Tax Counsel for Congressman Phil Crane (R-IL) and most recently as Chief of Staff to Congressman Sean Duffy (R-WI). In 2002, Johnson founded KCJ Consulting, where he advised clients on tax and trade policy. Immediately before founding KCJ Consulting, Johnson served as a Director of the Federal Tax Policy Group for PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Johnson will report to Bill Hughes, senior vice president for government affairs.

“Kirt will be a valuable asset to RILA and our member companies, both in his knowledge of tax policy and in his long experience in how Washington works. We are thrilled to have him aboard,” said Hughes.

Johnson holds a J.D. from the University of Wisconsin.