WASHINGTON, DC—The National Retail Federation has named Bill Thorne as senior vice president of communications and public affairs. He will oversee the organization's industry and public affairs communications strategy, including NRF's Retail Means Jobs campaign, a multi-million-dollar initiative to demonstrate the power of retail to America's economy and the career opportunities within the industry.

Thorne currently serves as senior director, community affairs, at Walmart Corporation, where he oversaw the creation and execution of campaigns for urban market entry, including budgets, strategy, and planning and development of both long- and short-term campaigns. He also served as senior director of advocacy outreach, where he created and successfully launched Walmart's corporate, public, and political advocacy network.

Prior to Walmart, Thorne served as vice president at DCI Group, where he led grassroots advocacy, public relations, and communications programming for corporate and association clients. He also spent four years as director of political and legislative grassroots at the American Medical Association, and worked with the National Republican Senatorial Committee and US Senator Phil Gramm.