David French

David French is senior vice president of government relations at the National Retail Federation and executive director of the National Council of Chain Restaurants. As NRF’s chief lobbyist, he plans and implements advocacy strategy for the world’s largest retail trade association. As executive director of NCCR, French leads efforts to advance sound public policy that serves restaurant businesses and the millions of people they employ.

French has played a leading role in the most important legislative battles affecting retail, including swipe fee reform, internet sales tax, patents, labor policy issues, tax reform and trade policy. In 2017, French scored a rare double win for the retail industry on the same major legislation, first by managing a national coalition to stop the Border Adjustment Tax, a centerpiece of the House GOP plan for tax reform. After the defeat of the BAT plan, he coordinated retail industry lobbying and advocacy in support of the historic corporate tax reform law enacted at the end of 2017.