Washington, D.C. — The American Economic Liberties Project’ Board of Directors today announced that Nidhi Hegde has been named permanent Executive Director of the organization. Additionally, Economic Liberties is pleased to announce that Zephyr Teachout and Todd Achilles will join as members of its Board.

“Over the past five years, Economic Liberties has played a crucial role in the fight against monopoly power, driving national conversations, shaping policy, and empowering enforcers to deliver real results for workers, small businesses, and consumers,” said Ross Baird, Chair of the American Economic Liberties Project’s Board of Directors. “Nidhi has played a critical role in this success, bringing extraordinary strategic vision and operational expertise to the organization that has supercharged its scope and effectiveness. With her steady-handed leadership, we are confident that Economic Liberties will continue to expand its impact, navigate new political terrain, and continue to leverage its expertise to deliver meaningful wins over the coming years.”

“We are also thrilled to welcome Zephyr Teachout and Todd Achilles, two anti-monopoly leaders, to our Board,” Baird added. “Their deep experience and commitment to the mission will help guide the organization to new heights and opportunities.”

Nidhi Hegde has served as Interim Executive Director since February 2024, and previously Managing Director and Director of Strategy & Programs at the American Economic Liberties Project since helping to develop and launch Economic Liberties as an independent organization in early 2020.

“I am honored to lead Economic Liberties as we enter this next phase in the fight against concentrated corporate power,” said Nidhi Hegde, Executive Director of the American Economic Liberties Project. “Thanks to the dedication of the talented thinkers, doers, and organizers that make up our staff, our team has grown into a top notch anti-monopoly research and advocacy operation that is now second to none. Building on the progress and wins of the past four years and going into a new political environment ahead, our work to amplify the voices of workers, small businesses, and communities — and turn that into concrete policy action — is more critical than ever. I am inspired by all we’ve accomplished and energized by the opportunity to deepen our impact alongside Zephyr, Todd, and others in the years to come.”

The new additions to the Board bring a wealth of expertise and passion to the organization.

Zephyr Teachout

“Punching far above its weight, Economic Liberties has been a driving force in advancing policies that challenge concentrated corporate power and empower local communities across the country,” said Zephyr Teachout. “I’m thrilled to join the Board and excited to work alongside such a talented team to build on this momentum, institutionalize the anti-monopoly movement’s victories, and gain even more ground in the fight for a fair and just economy.”

Zephyr Teachout is currently a Senior Advisor at the American Economic Liberties Project and a Professor at Law at Fordham Law School, where her research focuses on antimonopoly law and democratic theory. She is the author of the books, Break ’em Up (2020) and Corruption in America (2014), and recently served as Special Advisor and Senior Counsel for Economic Justice at the New York Attorney General’s Office. She has run for office three times, receiving over a third of the vote in a Democratic primary against Andrew Cuomo in 2014, as the Democratic nominee in New York’s 19th Congressional District in 2026, and for the office of New York Attorney General, where she came in second and received the endorsement of the New York Times. Prior to becoming a law professor she was a nonprofit executive and has continued to be deeply involved in economic justice organizing.

Todd Achilles

“From airlines and grocery stores, to heat pumps, healthcare, search and semiconductors, Economic Liberties brings a unique depth and breadth to the anti-monopoly fight,” said Todd Achilles. “It’s an honor to join the Board and support this organization’s extraordinary efforts to make the American economy work again for everyone.”

Todd Achilles serves as an Idaho State Representative and teaches public policy at UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy and Boise State’s School of Public Service. His policy focus is technology, innovation and anti-monopoly. Todd grew up on a family farm and served on active duty as an Army tank commander. He holds four patents and spent over 20 years in the tech industry with executive roles at T-Mobile and Hewlett-Packard. He is an advocate for affordable housing, small business, farmers and ranchers, and voting rights as a co-founder of Veterans for Idaho Voters.

Learn more about Economic Liberties here.

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The American Economic Liberties Project works to ensure America’s system of commerce is structured to advance, rather than undermine, economic liberty, fair commerce, and a secure, inclusive democracy. Economic Liberties believes true economic liberty means entrepreneurs and businesses large and small succeed on the merits of their ideas and hard work; commerce empowers consumers, workers, farmers, and engineers instead of subjecting them to discrimination and abuse from financiers and monopolists; foreign trade arrangements support domestic security and democracy; and wealth is broadly distributed to support equitable political power.