The National Retail Federation today named Matt Shay as its new president and CEO.

Shay, most recently president and CEO of the International Franchise Association, will be formally elected at NRF’s June 22 board meeting.

“Since many retailers and restaurants operate franchises–including McDonald’s, The Athlete’s Foot, Ace Hardware, Subway, and 7-Eleven–there are incredible synergies between NRF and Matt’s current group, the International Franchise Association,” says an NRF spokeswoman in a blog post today. “Issues like card check, employer mandates for health care coverage and interchange fees are already in Matt’s purview, as are other trends in retail like loss prevention, sustainability and e-commerce. In many ways, I have no doubt that he’ll be able to hit the ground running.”

Shay will succeed Tracy Mullin, who is retiring after 30 years at the association, including 17 years as CEO.

Mullin announced plans to retire last April when the NRF and the Retail Industry Leaders Association disclosed plans to merge. But after the merger was called off last summer Mullin said she would stay on as CEO until the NRF found a successor.