The Conference Board And Committee For Economic Development To Merge

Posted by Heidi SchwartzMerger arrows.

The Conference Board and the Committee for Economic Development (CED) have announced that they are merging. This joins two of the longest standing and most respected non-profit, non-partisan voices in U.S. and global business and policy. The combination has been approved by both boards, received the necessary regulatory approvals and became effective on January 1.

Founded in 1916 and based in New York, The Conference Board counts over 1,000 public and private companies in some 60 countries as members. It produces research in a wide array of areas, including global economics, human capital, corporate governance, sustainability and philanthropy, as well as a widely tracked series of economic indicators, including the Consumer Confidence Index® and The Conference Board Leading Economic Index® for the U.S.

“The merger of CED and The Conference Board brings together two organizations with uniquely complementary programs and a shared tradition of objective, incisive inquiry,” said Jon Spector, CEO of The Conference Board. “Our partnership…solidifies the long-term viability of our existing programs and opens unmatched opportunities for more productive discourse that brings the expertise of business to bear on the issues that matter most today.”

Steve Odland, the CEO of CED, added, “In a changing world, these two organizations are highly complementary. The Committee for Economic Development’s respected and reasoned policy voice in the nation’s capital will amplify The Conference Board’s research, and their economic data will further enhance CED’s policy solutions. Now, we’re pursuing the same benefits with a combination of non-profit organizations, a trend that we believe should continue.”