Simbe, the global leader in retail shelf digitization and store intelligence, has announced the formation of its inaugural Client Advisory Board (CAB), uniting leaders from some of the world’s most innovative retailers to inform product strategy, foster peer collaboration, and guide the future of shelf digitization.

The CAB complements Simbe’s Strategic Advisory Board and reflects growing investment in technologies that drive executional precision, operational efficiency, and associate empowerment at scale.

Global retailers can recoup an average of 5.5% revenue annually with technology-enabled store efficiencies, and planned investments in related technologies have surged 151% year-over-year according to Coresight Research. Robotic platforms now represent the largest area of growth within store intelligence.

“The CAB reflects our belief that the best innovation comes from partnership, not only with Simbe but also with industry peers,” said Benjamin Bond, SVP Strategy & Client Success at Simbe. “This forum ensures Simbe will continue to lead the industry in maximizing the value and impact for our clients.”

Client Advisory Board Members
The board spans half a dozen sectors — from grocery and club, to farm and home improvement — and includes leaders with deep experience in store operations, technology, supply chain, and automation from some of the most innovative companies worldwide:

• Kim Anderson – VP of Store Operations Support at Schnuck Markets; 40-year Schnucks veteran with leadership roles overseeing operations, workforce, maintenance, and inventory management.
  
• Assia Cloran – District Manager at Country Supplier; 20+ years of retail experience with 12 years at Country Supplier leading multi-store operations, team development, and customer experience.
  
• Nina Dedic – GenAI Product Lead at SPAR ICS; 15+ years of technology leadership with prior roles as CTO at Simplify Hospitality and Head of Core Development at Wüstenrot Technology.
  
• Nick DeSetto – Director of Assets & Loss Prevention at ShopRite Supermarkets; 17-year Wakefern veteran with roles spanning operations, store management, and analytics.
  
• Mandi Dyer – COO of Country Supplier; 20+ years with C-A-L Ranch & Coastal Farm & Ranch leading operations and technology innovation across 50+ stores.
  
• Bruce Hatch – CIO at Harmons Grocery; 20+ years of IT leadership across retail, SaaS, and eCommerce, with expertise in enterprise systems, integrations, and AI-driven innovation.
  
• Krystyna Kostka – Chief Supply Chain Officer at BJ’s Wholesale Club; 20+ years of leadership across operations and supply chain, overseeing end-to-end logistics and robotics innovation at BJ’s.
  
• Caroline Krieger – Robotics & Automation Manager at BJ’s Wholesale Club; 6 years with BJ’s leading robotics pilots, adoption, and process innovation, with earlier finance roles at TJX.
  
• Adrian Salazar – Director of Workforce Management at Schnuck Markets; 18-year Schnucks veteran with leadership roles spanning merchandising, operations, and labor management.

Together, the group will share operational expertise, shape Simbe’s product roadmap, and strengthen cross-ecosystem collaboration to maximize impact across fleets and formats.

Measurable Impact for Simbe Clients
Retailers already deploying Simbe’s Store Intelligence™ platform report measurable outcomes. Simbe customers have seen 98% on-shelf availability, 90% improved pricing and promo accuracy, and 2% margin growth, while store teams reallocate up to 50 hours per week to higher-value tasks. 

“Automated inventory control and integrated reporting ensure better control of product availability on the shelves of our stores, and our employees have more time for personal customer service. A win-win situation for all parties,” said SPAR Austria Group’s CEO, Hans K. Reisch.

“Tally has made a major impact on our pricing accuracy as well as our out-of-stock rate,” noted Country Supplier COO Mandi Dyer.

Thom Blischok Joins as Executive Advisor
In addition to the CAB, Simbe also welcomes retail strategist Thom Blischok as an executive advisor to the CEO and leadership team. A 40-year industry veteran, Blischok previously served as Chief Retail & CPG Strategist at PwC and held senior global roles at Symphony IRI, Equifax, Coopers & Lybrand.

“Retailers and CPG manufacturers are navigating hundreds of new technologies. Some will succeed, and many will not,” said Blischok. “Simbe is a proven, scalable platform with over a decade of performance and adoption. I’m excited to help shape how the industry capitalizes on intelligent automation.”

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Bed Bath & Beyond, Inc. (NYSE: BBBY) and The Brand House Collective, Inc. (Nasdaq: TBHC) today announced that Nora Gomez has been appointed Chief Merchandising Officer for Bed Bath & Beyond and its family of brands, driving unified product strategy and accountability across the entire portfolio.

Gomez is a proven retail leader with over 20 years of experience in assortment strategy, global sourcing, and multi-channel execution. She most recently served as Chief Merchandising Officer at Nebraska Furniture Mart consistently improving merchandising performance and value perception.

Amy Sullivan, CEO of The Brand House Collective, said, “Nora has proven ability to drive margin expansion, inventory productivity, and customer transaction growth – ensuring that our e-commerce platform and our 250+ stores deliver on our omnichannel vision for each brand. From bedrooms and bathrooms to kitchens, backyards, and kids’ spaces, Nora brings the merchandising discipline to deliver quality and value at every price point – understanding that profitable growth happens when you get the whole-home offer right.”

“This is a major addition as we enter 2026,” said Marcus Lemonis, Executive Chairman and Principal Executive Officer of Bed Bath & Beyond. “Nora brings the operational precision Amy and I are looking for – delivering the right product in the right place at the right time while expanding customer reach, revenue, and margin across every category that supports life inside the four walls of the home and the four corners of the property.”

“Everything begins with the customer,” said Gomez. “My focus is simple – drive growth, improve profitability, and make every decision through the lens of the customer, ensuring they experience great design, real value, and confidence in every purchase.”

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Inmar Intelligence, a leader in technology-driven solutions, today announced the hiring of Emma Versaw as Regional Vice President, Head of Adult Beverage, reaffirming and expanding its commitment to the Adult Beverage category. Building on established partnerships with leading retailers such as Costco and GoPuff, Inmar is expanding partnerships with additional leading retailers to provide brands with deeper insights, greater access to transaction data, and enhanced precision in targeting and measurement. These advancements strengthen Inmar’s leadership in Adult Beverage media and incentives, reaching more than 112.7 million shoppers through partnerships with leading national retailers.

Versaw brings over a decade of experience in retail media, martech, and promotions with the majority of that time focused exclusively on the Adult Beverage category. Her deep knowledge of the industry’s complex regulatory landscape and her passion for connecting incentives, loyalty, and media solutions position her to lead Inmar’s next phase of growth.

“I’m thrilled to join Inmar at this pivotal time,” said Versaw. “Adult Beverage brands face complex challenges, ranging from regulatory requirements to shifting consumer behaviors, and Inmar is uniquely positioned to help them succeed. By combining incentives, loyalty, and media solutions we can deliver smarter, more impactful campaigns that drive growth.”

Versaw’s appointment comes at a pivotal time for the Adult Beverage industry, where consumer behavior is evolving rapidly amid shifting priorities and spending habits. According to new Adult Beverage research from Inmar, 26% of consumers say alcohol is among the first categories they cut when budgets are tight, and 41% have traded down to lower-priced options in recent months. However, the opportunity for growth remains strong – 65% of consumers who’ve stopped buying say they’re open to returning, and nearly half have used digital coupons to save on alcohol purchases, proving the power of incentives in driving re-engagement.

“As a long-standing partner of Inmar, we’ve seen how collaboration and data-driven strategy can transform Adult Beverage trade marketing practices into a more connected, shopper-centric experience,” said Gina-Rose Greenwood at Heineken USA. “Through our partnership, we’re connecting data, loyalty, and retailer relationships to create engaging moments that meet shoppers where they are, inspiring confident purchase decisions and enhancing the in-store and online experiences. We’re thrilled to welcome Emma’s expertise as we keep pushing the boundaries of what’s possible together.”

Inmar’s Adult Beverage work has earned multiple industry honors for campaigns with leading brands such as Lone Star Beer and Diageo’s Johnnie Walker and Crown Royal. Building on recent initiatives like one for Labatt USA, Inmar continues to set the standard for data-driven solutions in the Adult Beverage industry that deliver measurable impact.

“Emma’s hiring and our expanded retail partnerships reinforce Inmar’s long-term commitment to helping Adult Beverage brands succeed,” said Rob Weisberg, President of MarTech, Inmar Intelligence. “With deeper data access and a unified team under Emma’s leadership, we’re empowering our clients to reach the right consumers at the right moments with measurable results.”

In support of this growth, Inmar has also established a dedicated team focused on Adult Beverage innovation and product strategy, led by David Pless as Head of Adult Beverage Business Strategy. This investment underscores the company’s commitment to strengthening its leadership and delivering continued category advancement.

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Food solutions company SpartanNash^®  (Nasdaq: SPTN) today announced Jay Mahabir has been named Vice President, Retail Operations, effective immediately. Mahabir will oversee retail operations at nearly 200 SpartanNash-operated stores in 10 states. He will be focused on leading an excellent in-store and online experience for Associates and shoppers.

“We will continue to enhance our shopping experience by focusing on freshness, value and convenience, and Jay will play a critical role in leading this work,” said SpartanNash Senior Vice President and Chief Retail Officer Djouma Barry. “Jay will also be focused on developing our talent pipeline, so retail Associates can maximize the career opportunities available to them across our footprint.”

Mahabir previously served as Market Director for Meijer, where he led the two highest-volume markets in Michigan. He also served in store leadership roles at Lowe’s and Target, where he earned recognition for his Associate retention and engagement rates, customer service scores, shrink initiatives and operational excellence.

SpartanNash has been steadily growing its retail presence, with 2024 acquisitions of Metcalfe’s^® Market, Fresh Encounter Inc. and Markham Enterprises Inc.

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Ulta Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) today announced the appointment of Lauren Brindley as Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer effective June 3, 2025. Brindley succeeds Monica Arnaudo who will retire in June. As Chief Merchandising and Digital Officer, Brindley will have executive responsibility for Ulta Beauty’s merchandising, ecommerce, wellness, and marketplace strategies, while also leading the company’s assortment brand building strategy.

“Providing our guests with the best beauty and wellness assortment while building strong, strategic partnerships with our brands is critical to Ulta Beauty’s future growth,” said Kecia Steelman, President and Chief Executive Officer. “I’m confident Lauren is the right person to fuel our continued success. She is a proven, strategic leader with deep industry expertise, a global perspective, and a passion for beauty that aligns with our vision for the future. My sincere thanks to Monica, who has shaped Ulta Beauty’s world-class assortment and category innovation, and for her support during this transition.”

“I am truly honored to join Ulta Beauty and build upon the company’s exceptional legacy of innovation and impact,” said Lauren Brindley. “As a long-time admirer of the brand, I’m thrilled to step into this role and work alongside an incredible leadership team to help shape the next chapter of growth and continue to elevate the beauty experience for guests and partners alike.”

Brindley brings more than two decades of global beauty and retail expertise to Ulta Beauty. Most recently, she served as Chief Executive Officer of Revolution Beauty and prior to that, she held senior leadership roles at Walgreens and Boots UK, where she demonstrated proven success in driving ambitious and transformative change for both luxury and mass consumer businesses.

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Kroger appointed Joe Kelley, president of the Colorado-based King Soopers & City Markets division, to be senior vice president of Retail Divisions. Kelley is an industry veteran of nearly 40 years. He has held a number of executive leadership roles across a variety of retailers, including Price Chopper, Stop and Shop, Star Market, and Shaws Supermarkets. Kelley joined the Kroger enterprise in 2019.

“Joe is a customer-centric leader who brings broad industry experience, with a strong track record of making stores great places to shop,” said Ron Sargent, Chairman and CEO of Kroger.

Kelley succeeds Kenny Kimball, who returns to the Utah-based Smith’s division as president after three years also leading as SVP of Retail Divisions. Kimball joined the Kroger enterprise in 1984.

“We are grateful for Kenny’s leadership as he stepped up to oversee multiple retail divisions in addition to Smith’s,” continued Sargent. “His commitment to our associates and customers is inspirational, and he will continue to play a key role in our enterprise, supporting strategic priorities and mentoring young leaders.”

Chris Albi, group vice president of Operations at King Soopers & City Markets, will succeed Kelley as president of the division. As a trusted leader, Albi is deeply connected to the division’s identity, strategy and associates. She joined the Kroger enterprise in 1981 as a courtesy clerk and has held numerous leadership roles in her tenure, including Grocery category manager, vice president of Merchandising for the Michigan division and president of QFC.

Kendra Doyel will lead the California- and Illinois-based Food 4 Less as president, succeeding Bryan Kaltenbach. Doyel joined the Kroger enterprise in 1998 as a pharmacist in the Fry’s division. Since then, she has held several leadership roles across multiple departments for Fry’s, Ralph’s and Food 4 Less.

Kaltenbach will retire after more than 50 years in the grocery industry. He joined the Food 4 Less team in 1994 and held several leadership positions, including store manager, Director of Store Operations and Director of Sales & Marketing. Kaltenbach was named division president in 2010.

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Eagle Eye, a leading SaaS and AI technology company that delivers loyalty, personalized promotions, and omnichannel marketing solutions for retail, travel, and hospitality brands, today announced the appointment of Jeff Baskin as Chief Revenue Officer. Based in the US and part of Eagle Eye’s executive team, Baskin will lead global sales and customer success initiatives, playing a key role in accelerating the company’s US and wider international expansion.

Baskin joins Eagle Eye with over 20 years of experience in the retail technology sector, where he has specialized in transforming revenue operations for companies serving grocery, convenience, restaurant, and big-box retail industries. His appointment comes at a significant time as the company embarks on the next stage of its development, positioning the business to deliver its stated medium-term ambition of $130 million in revenue and a 30% adjusted EBITDA margin.

“Jeff’s track record in scaling revenue operations and partnering with the largest retailers in the US and around the world makes him the ideal leader to join our recently expanded senior leadership team, which will drive our next phase of growth,” said Tim Mason, CEO of Eagle Eye. “His deep understanding of the retail ecosystem and proven ability to deliver solutions that meet the evolving needs of retailers will be invaluable as we continue to expand our international footprint by delivering more profitable personalization solutions to businesses worldwide.”

Prior to joining Eagle Eye, Baskin served as a Senior Partner at NexChapter, a strategic advisory firm focused on innovation in the grocery and convenience retail sectors. Before that, he served as Chief Revenue Officer at Upshop, where he successfully led global enterprise sales, customer success, and strategic alliances and helped the grocery operations software company through multiple acquisitions and a large private equity event in January 2024.

Baskin’s earlier career includes executive leadership roles at Radius Networks, where he spearheaded the launch of the Flybuy platform and established partnerships with major retailers, including Kroger, Walmart, and Chipotle. His experience also encompasses roles at EVERFI and Simplexity (formerly InPhonic), where he built strong relationships with Fortune 500 companies and contributed to significant fundraising achievements.

“Eagle Eye is addressing real challenges for retailers within the unified commerce ecosystem. Delivering real-time loyalty propositions and utilizing AI to achieve personalization at scale are top priorities for the majority of retailers right now and Eagle Eye’s AIR Platform and EagleAI solutions are leading the industry. The market opportunity is significant and growing worldwide, with the United States representing more than 40% of the total addressable market,” said Baskin. “The chance to help expand a business with proven capability—and to support brands in reaching customers more effectively—was a compelling one. I’m looking forward to playing a hands-on role in scaling our reach, capitalizing on the immediate opportunity the US presents, and growing the business globally.”

A recognized thought leader in the retail industry, Baskin is a frequent speaker at premier conferences, including NRF and GroceryShop. He has also hosted numerous webinars featuring top retail executives to address emerging trends and challenges shaping the future of retail.

Baskin’s appointment underscores Eagle Eye’s commitment to strengthening its senior leadership team and expanding in the Americas as the company works toward doubling its size to reach $130 million in revenue.

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Mercatus, a leading provider of digital engagement and eCommerce solutions for regional grocers and independents, has announced the appointment of Lee Lambeth as its Vice President of Retail Operations.

In his new role, Lambeth will work directly with Sylvain Perrier, President North America and Global COO, in overseeing the delivery and implementation of the company’s product portfolio, enhancing its solutions to better serve and expand Mercatus’ retail client base.

“We are thrilled to welcome Lee Lambeth to our team,” said Perrier. “Lee brings a remarkable depth of retail and operational expertise that is vital for our ongoing strategy to provide top-tier shopper engagement and eCommerce solutions to retailers. His proven track record in driving profitability and reducing capital expenditures aligns perfectly with our goals to optimize the operational efficiency of our retail partners’ online efforts and drive them toward profitable growth.”

Lambeth joins Mercatus with more than three decades of retail operations experience, having held leadership roles in operations at Wilson’s, Hannaford Brothers, and Lowes Foods. Most recently, he served as COO at GrocerKey and subsequently as VP of Customer Success at Point Pickup Technologies, where he was instrumental in developing successful eCommerce strategies for retailers, including major accounts like Calgary Co-op, Heinen’s, Fareway and Federated Co-op.

“I am incredibly excited to be joining Mercatus and contributing to a team that is redefining success in the grocery eCommerce space,” said Lambeth. “I look forward to applying my experience to help our retail partners enhance their operational efficiency, increase customer satisfaction, and achieve new levels of profitability.”

Lambeth, a recognized presenter and former Chair of Grocery for Home Delivery World, is well-regarded throughout the industry for his eCommerce expertise and proven ability to drive profits for retailers through reduced operational spending and increased digital sales. His appointment underscores Mercatus’s ongoing commitment to provide grocery retailers with a competitive advantage over national chains, mass merchants, and discounters.

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Synergy Logistics, a leading innovator in warehouse management technology, has promoted Brian Kirst to Chief Commercial Officer as business continues to ramp up.

Brian previously looked after all customer facing elements of the business in North America, but now oversees all aspects of Sales, Marketing, Support and After Sales globally.

He brings 30 years of experience in supply chain, logistics and digital technology. Prior to joining Synergy in early 2022, Brian co-founded and launched two high growth 3PL order fulfillment companies –Total Reliance in 2014 and Resurge in 2019. Both scaled successfully with Synergy’s highly flexible SnapFulfil warehouse management system (WMS) as the differentiator.

The restructure also sees Chief Product & Delivery Officer, Smitha Raphael, take on a more global role with the development services and implementation teams. Both report directly into Synergy Logistics Chairman, Hugh Stevens.

Stevens said: “Brian is the ideal fit for this crucial role. As a fellow owner, operator, and entrepreneur; our strategic views align. I also like his leadership and decision-making approach. He recognises opportunities quickly and looks to make an immediate impact.”

Kirst has been using his applied knowledge, gained across multiple industries and sectors, to help customers identify their value drivers and further tap into the potential of Synergy’s technologically advanced software to drive revenue and profitability.

He added: “My focus will be growing and evolving with our existing customers, but also developing further enterprise-level business, as our highly configurable WMS and multi-agent orchestration solutions become increasingly relevant in today’s automation-driven supply chains.

“This includes executing on our ambitions of having a fully global and consistent product offering, with recent implementations in Asia and South America, complementing our long-standing and proven track record in the North America and EMEA regions.”

About Synergy: Synergy Logistics powers warehousing operations globally for over 50 years. Synergy’s cloud-based warehouse management system (WMS), SnapFulfil, delivers cutting-edge technology and rapid return on investment using a proprietary and highly configurable workflow rules engine. With flexibility at its core, SnapFulfil is quick and easy to implement and can swiftly adapt to meet evolving fulfillment demands that ultimately improves warehouse efficiency. Synergy’s latest breakthrough technology, SnapControl, is a multi-agent orchestration platform (MAO) that provides a device agnostic, unified approach to automation. SnapControl provides seamless and efficient orchestration of all warehouse devices and robots, with a low total cost of ownership and rapid time to value.

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Chris White joins as Head of Sales for Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA) with a dual remit of further improving client engagement and advancing the commercial arm of the business.

Chris has over 25 years of experience in large-scale operations, having worked with companies like Hewlett Packard, Pitney Bowes, and DHL Express. He has held senior positions in IT, supply chain, warehousing, and distribution. In his previous role as a Director for the SaaS Enterprise Division of Parcel2Go, a leading player in the fulfilment market, he achieved a growth of 300% in just seven years. As a result, the Enterprise Division now accounts for 60% of the Group’s overall business and their portfolio has expanded from three to thirty different organizations. Chris began his career playing professional football for 14 years at Portsmouth FC, Peterborough United and Exeter City.

Chris stated, “I am thrilled to be a part of Synergy – a company that is as flexible, agile and adaptable as its software solutions. The products they offer make a real, tangible difference and I am excited to contribute to the positive trajectory of the business.”

“I’ll also be working very closely with Synergy’s EMEA CEO, Tony Dobson, who has unrivalled contacts and experience within the industry and continued passion for technological advancement. I can contribute additional expertise in building strong partnerships and delivering enterprise level value.”

To bolster Synergy’s ambitious growth plans, Chris will be supported by Kirsten-Reece Tarpey, who has been promoted to Business Development Manager, and Dan Moss in his new role as Commercial & Operations Manager.

About Synergy:

Synergy Logistics is a leading innovator in warehouse management technology, powering warehousing operations globally for over 50 years. Synergy’s cloud-based warehouse management system (WMS), SnapFulfil, delivers cutting edge technology and rapid return on investment using a proprietary and highly configurable workflow rules engine. With flexibility at its core, SnapFulfil is quick and easy to implement and can swiftly adapt to meet evolving fulfillment demands that ultimately improves warehouse efficiency. Synergy’s latest breakthrough technology, the award-winning SnapControl, is a multi-agent orchestration platform (MAO) that provides a device agnostic, unified approach to automation. SnapControl provides seamless and efficient orchestration of all warehouse devices and robots, with a low total cost of ownership and rapid time to value.

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