WASHINGTON–Stephen Brobeck, the executive director of the Consumer Federation of America, said he will retire in June after 38 years of service.
Brobeck is known to many in credit unions for work where the CFA’s interests overlapped those of credit unions, but also for the annual holiday spending survey the CFA and CUNA have jointly conducted.
Having served on the CFA board from 1976 to 1979, he was appointed executive director in the spring of 1980. Brobeck will be succeeded by Jack Gillis, CFA’s long-standing director of public affairs.
“During his tenure, Steve unified a diverse set of consumer and cooperative organizations, built a strong financial base, and recruited leading advocates to staff in many different policy areas,” said Janet Domenitz, CFA board chair and executive director of MASSPIRG. “He also helped to launch new organizations including Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety and the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud as well as successful programs including America Saves and Consumer Lobby Day. In addition, he served on more than a dozen boards of directors, including that of the Federal Reserve Board of Richmond. Brobeck has been an extraordinary and effective leader for CFA.”
Domenitz noted that Brobeck will serve as executive director until June 20, the day of CFA’s annual Awards Dinner, when he will then pursue his research interests as a CFA senior fellow. The June 20 dinner, held during CFA’s 50th anniversary year, will recognize CFA’s member organizations and a half-century of consumer activism. The dinner program will also honor Brobeck and introduce Gillis as his successor.