24 Leaders To Watch In 2024
CommerceNext is honoring 24 leaders to watch in 2024 with the CommerceXcellence Award. The award recognizes visionaries and leaders in the retail industry who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, innovation and impact!
Adam Michaels
Chief Digital Officer
Crocs
Adam’s commitment to enhancing sustainability and circular economy efforts within the fashion industry is extraordinary. By encouraging shoppers to bring back their old Crocs shoes, regardless of condition and repurposing them through partnerships and donations to organizations like Soles4Souls, Adam is leading the way in reducing waste, reusing materials and making a positive social and environmental impact.
Adrian Rohr
Vice President Marketing
Fabletics
Adrian’s positive leadership style encourages a deep dive into analytics, ensuring his team is always one step ahead in the ever-evolving marketing landscape. Beyond growing sales, Adrian’s keen insights into modern marketing trends show his commitment to growth and improving the customer experience.
Allyssa Kaiser
Senior Director of Performance Marketing
NEST New York
Allyssa has spearheaded NEST New York’s performance marketing team for over two years. Despite last year’s significant success, they’ve redefined their approach to growth marketing, earning recognition from TikTok with a published case study and an invitation for Allyssa to participate in their small business seminar.
Angela Clark
Head of Digital Studio
Patagonia
Angela leads the charge in impactful brand storytelling, driving conscious consumerism and action. Her vision includes a unified digital strategy and initiatives to amplify sustainability efforts through Patagonia Action Works which connects environmental action groups to local causes.
Bethany Muths
Chief Marketing and Customer Officer
Mizzen+Main
Bethany’s visionary leadership is evident in her strategic initiatives, particularly the incorporation of fit technology. This customer-centric approach plays a pivotal role in boosting conversion rates and Average Order Value while reducing fit-related returns.
Chad Lundeen
Vice President of Real Estate & Store Development
Saatva
Chad’s impact on the retail-tech experience stems from his ability to expertly integrate design, customer experience and brand strategy in a physical space. He transformed Saatva’s retail store development over the past two years resulting in an astounding 10x growth in revenue and 2x in local brand awareness. His approach is more than retail technology, it’s the strategic combination of aesthetics, customer experience, and brand education.
Chris Maliwat
Chief Digital Officer
Victoria Beckham Beauty
Chris spearheads an innovative SMS channel at Victoria Beckham Beauty (VBB), driving engagement and conversions. His creative use of SMS successfully launched a new product category, generating excitement and a waitlist of eager subscribers. Additionally, Chris oversees the strategic deployment of exclusive content, targeting the most relevant audience based on preferences and activity.
Christiane Pendarvis
CoCEO
Pattern Beauty
Christiane Pendarvis, with over 25 years of retail experience, is co-CEO of Pattern Beauty. With a track record of turning insights into action, she is also known for substantial revenue growth and successful financing rounds, Pendarvis’s strategic expertise is poised to propel Pattern Beauty towards becoming the foremost leader in textured hair care, in line with Ellis Ross’s vision for the brand.
CTM
Chief Digital Officer
Domino’s
CTM has constantly pushed an already innovative brand further. Working with many teams at Dominos’s he’s piloted programs that are always thinking of the customer’s needs. A few examples include: pinpoint delivery, being an ally, and educating the industry about how they innovate.
Ekta Chopra
Chief Digital Officer
e.l.f. Beauty – Winner
Ekta is an industry veteran with more than two decades of expertise. She has demonstrated her strategic brilliance through e.l.f. Beauty’s leadership as a digital disruptor, creating augmented reality campaigns and authentic digital interactions with consumers. Notably, under her guidance, e.l.f. Beauty has excelled in engaging Gen Z through innovative immersive experiences, solidifying e.l.f.’s position as the #1 Cosmetics Brand Among Teens.
Elizabeth Preis
Global Chief Marketing Officer
Anthropologie Group
Elizabeth has a deep understanding of customer affinity and focuses on building brand love at both local and digital levels for a seamless and captivating experience across all touchpoints. She helped Anthropologie collaborate with Pinterest on a #MakingMerry Holiday Showhouse, exemplifying partnership synergy and delivering a top-notch customer experience.
Jenna Posner
Chief Digital Officer
Solo Brands
Jenna consistently exceeds industry standards by crafting unique and personalized experiences. Regarded as a team ‘cheerleader,’ she fosters innovation and creativity. With a bold leadership style, Jenna has established herself as a significant industry contributor. Notably, Solo Stove saw exceptional success under her leadership, achieving a 40% increase in generative AI chatbot take rates, a 30% decrease in workload, and maintaining an impressive CSAT score.
Jennifer Stender Hawkins
SVP Marketing and Ecommerce
Centric Brands
Jennifer has played a pivotal role in launching Favorite Daughter, Centric Brands’ digital first brand, in collaboration with Sara and Erin Foster. Her strategic acumen extends to implementing technology enhancements, unifying brands on a shared tech stack and introducing digital innovation and omnichannel features.
Josh Krepon
President of DTC & Global Digital
Steve Madden
Josh is an integral part of the digital community, and helps Steve Madden incorporate technology and marketing to beat earnings expectations. Beyond mentoring and knowing the latest trends, Steve Madden launched a successful new mobile pop up initiative this year to attract college students, called the Shoebox showroom.
Kyle Barz
Director, Global Retail & eCommerce Technology
Mars Wrigley
Kyle was instrumental in designing, planning, and launching the first headless commerce platform at Mars and also in the CPG D2C industry. The platform can be extended to all the D2C brands in Mars which will increase speed to market and provide unique experiences to consumers worldwide. Kyle is a leader by example who truly exemplifies empathy, humbleness and innovative mindset.
Mandeep Bhatia
VP, Global Digital Product & Omnichannel Innovation
Tapestry
Mandeep spearheads Tapestry’s digital innovation, driving the company’s shift to groundbreaking omnichannel customer experiences. Under his leadership, Tapestry partnered with Edgio to revolutionize the family of brands’ web infrastructure, delivering dynamic online experiences through cutting-edge technologies. Mandeep’s strategic vision positions Tapestry as an industry leader, setting new standards for digital transformation.
Nadina Gugliemetti
Chief Customer Officer
Vitamin Shoppe
Leading her team, Nadina implemented a process that democratizes work, ensuring consistent planning and strategy across all channels. Under her leadership, The Vitamin Shoppe achieved a seamless omnichannel customer experience, a testament to her data-driven strategies and innovative approach in navigating the dynamic retail landscape.
NJ Falk
Managing Partner
Athletic Propulsion Labs
NJ, a driving force at Athletic Propulsion Labs (APL), strategically boosted revenue by diversifying the brand’s collection and harnessing the power of MMS for impactful imagery, elevating their market presence. As a dedicated leader, she empowers her team to innovate, contributing significantly to APL’s tremendous success.
Rachel Martinho
Sr. Director, Loyalty & Digital Engagement
Skechers
Rachel’s influential decision-making at Skechers has been instrumental in elevating the brand’s market position, particularly through the impactful use of SMS for customer acquisition and engagement. Her unique approach, combining hands-on involvement and forward-thinking strategy, establishes her as a key driver in fostering growth and innovation.
Sabrina Cherubini
SVP, Brand & Digital
Hanky Panky
An experienced inspirational and collaborative leader, Sabrina excels in motivating and mentoring teams, especially with her vast knowledge surrounding executing strong-consumer-centric strategies in a fast-paced environment including branching out to mens products. Sabrina is adept at growing global brand revenue and equity.
Sameer Hassan
SVP, Technology
Williams-Sonoma, Inc
Sameer has played a crucial role in advancing Williams-Sonoma’s digital strategy, orchestrating the integration of innovative technologies for personalized marketing, resulting in millions of tailored daily emails. His leadership in implementing AI and automation has significantly boosted customer engagement and operational efficiency, positioning the brand for sustained growth.
Sarah Wallis
Chief Operating Officer
Minted
Sarah is adept at growing revenue, leading effective teams and with a focus on measurable results. Additionally, Sarah is skilled in vendor negotiation and management, having worked with a wide range of innovative third-party technology and marketing partners managing cost reduction and new business models.
Sharon Price John
CEO
Build-A-Bear
Sharon has orchestrated a remarkable financial turnaround and strategic brand expansion to have record-breaking profits. As Build-A-Bear transcends conventional perceptions and cultivates an adult following, Sharon’s forward-thinking approach has been pivotal in the company’s transformative journey, positioning it as an experiential retail empire with an ever-expanding digital presence.
Shirley Gao
Chief Digital & Information Officer
PacSun
Shirley drove omni-channel optimization and innovation, significantly improved receiving, allocation, and digital fulfillment efficiency. She launched BOPIS, Amazon Same Day Delivery, and Pacsun Same Day Delivery. She not only modernized the systems, but enabled eCom crypto currency and other advanced payments.
Awards Presented At January 15th Reception
January 15th at 7:30 pm at the Rubin Museum of Art, NYC
The 2024 CommerceXcellence Awards were presented at our Reception at NRF Big Show.
George Khachatryan, CEO, OfferFit
Sara Varni, Chief Marketing Officer, Attentive
Emily Gulp, Board Member, Mizzen + Main, Stio & Cordial
Emily Hickey, Co-Founder & CEO, Chief Detective Growth Consulting
Liesel Walsh, Frmr SVP Marketing & Customer Experience, Boston Proper
Geoffrey Sanders, Chief Marketing Officer, Firstleaf
Shawna Hausman, SVP, Global Ecommerce, ESPRIT
Andrew Fried, SVP, Direct to Consumer, Mint Mobile
Suruchi Shukla, VP Marketing, Minted
Julie Evans, VP and CMO, Omaha Steaks
Dave Cost, VP of Digital and Ecommerce, Rainbow
Jason Nickel, SVP of Marketing, Ten Thousand
Jeff Hamm, VP, Digital Experience and Operations, Ulta
Daren Hull, Frmr President, Vera Bradley
Kacey Sharrett, VP, Direct to Consumer, GoPro
Carolyn Pollock, CMO, Tailored Brands
Samir Desai, EVP, Chief Digital + Technology Officer, Abercrombie & Fitch Co.
Matt Gehring, Chief Marketing Officer, Dutch
Naomi Jacobs, Senior Director, Head of Social, Walmart
Kimberly Minor, CoFounder, WOCRA
Melissa Campanelli, Co-Founder, Women in
Retail, Women Leading Travel & Hospitality &
Total Retail, NAPCO Media
Leslie Emmons Burthey, Senior Vice President Marketing, TeePublic
