Jennifer Garner

Co-Founder Once Upon A Farm

Award-winning actress Jennifer Garner has enjoyed a successful career at the top of her field in both film and television and has also taken on the role of philanthropist and entrepreneur.

Garner is known for her versatility in a wide range of starring roles in Alias, Dallas Buyers Club, Love Simon, Juno, and more. Most recently, Garner executive produced and starred in the hit Apple TV+ limited series The Last Thing He Told Me, based on the eponymous New York Times bestseller by Laura Dave, and the Netflix comedy features Family Switch and Yes Day, which became Netflix’s biggest Kids & Family film release after launching on the platform. Next, Garner will star and executive produce a sequel to Yes Day for Netflix and The Five-Star Weekend for Peacock. Garner recently wrapped production on Season 2 of Apple TV+ The Last Thing He Told Me where she also serves as an executive producer.

In 2017, Garner co-founded leading childhood nutrition company Once Upon a Farm. As Chief Brand Officer, she has helped the company grow with the goal of providing organic, crave-worthy snacks and meals for children of all ages. As a businesswoman, Garner has worked with major brands including Neutrogena and Capital One and joined the Virtue Labs team to amplify and raise awareness about the unique health and beauty benefits of the company’s premium hair care line.

As a philanthropist, Garner is a Save the Children Trustee and has worked with the organization since 2008. In 2014, Garner joined the global non-profit’s board of trustees, deepening her commitment to issues affecting children in America and around the world.

John Foraker

CEO & Co-Founder Once Upon A Farm

John Foraker has served as CEO and Chairman of the Board since becoming a co-founder of Once Upon a Farm in September 2017. Prior to joining Once Upon a Farm, Mr. Foraker served 11 years as CEO and director of Annie’s, Inc., a leading natural and organic food brand. He played a pivotal role in taking the company public in 2012 prior to its buyout by General Mills, Inc. (NYSE: GIS) in 2014. From October 2014 to September 2017, Mr. Foraker served as President of the Annie’s Operating Unit at General Mills. Prior to his tenure at Annie’s, Mr. Foraker served as Vice President at Bank of America, overseeing commercial banking client relationship management in the bank’s premium wine business portfolio. Mr. Foraker has a BS in Agricultural Economics from UC Davis and an MBA from University of California, Berkeley.

Chris Rogers

CEO Instacart

Chris Rogers is the Chief Executive Officer and Board Chair of Instacart. He has more than 20 years of experience across consumer goods, technology, retail, and media, building scaled platforms through deep partnerships and operational execution. Before becoming CEO, Rogers served as Instacart’s Chief Business Officer, leading the company’s commercial operations, including retailer partnerships, advertising and data, enterprise solutions, partnerships, M&A, Instacart Business, and Instacart Health. Prior to Instacart, Rogers spent nearly 11 years at Apple, most recently as Managing Director of Apple Canada, and began his career at Procter & Gamble managing national grocery retail relationships. Rogers holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Wilfrid Laurier University

Jostein Solheim

CEO, Unilever Wellbeing Unilever

Jostein Solheim is the CEO of Wellbeing at Unilever, overseeing a portfolio of seven category-disrupting brands that include Nutrafol – the No.1 dermatologist-recommended hair growth supplement brand, and Liquid I.V. – the No.1 powdered hydration brand in the U.S. The brands deliver consistent growth, with the business unit delivering its 21^st consecutive quarter of double-digit, volume-led growth.
Named to this role in June 2021, Jostein is building a collective of brands at the forefront of innovating and transforming the health and wellbeing industry, helping people live healthier lives across every stage of life.
Prior to leading Unilever Wellbeing, he served as head of Unilever’s North America Foods and Refreshments division and was CEO of Ben & Jerry’s. During his eight years as CEO of Ben & Jerry’s, he successfully expanded the iconic business across 38 countries while further increasing its social mission reach and impact.
Earlier in his career, Jostein spent 15 years in Unilever’s ice cream businesses across Europe, Eastern Europe, and North America. Prior to that he worked within Unilever’s Corporate Strategy department supporting the global foods business. Jostein graduated from the London School of Economics.

Michael Beacham

President California Pizza Kitchen

Michael Beacham currently serves as President of California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), where he is driving a renewed focus on licensing and strategic growth. A seasoned executive with decades of leadership experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry, Beacham joined CPK after serving as Group CEO for Earl Enterprises the parent company for Planet Hollywood, Brio, Bravo, Earl of Sandwich, Bertucci’s and Bucca Di Beppo as well as Virtual Dining Concepts (Mr Beast Burger) Throughout Beacham’s career he has led the global operations, expansion, and development strategies for several global brands, including serving as President of Darden International, where he oversaw the company’s international portfolio, and as Chief Operating Officer of Hard Rock Cafe International, managing corporate and franchise operations across more than 70 countries. He has also held senior executive roles at CEC Entertainment (Chuck E. Cheese’s), Rosinter Restaurants, and Carlson Restaurants Worldwide (TGI Friday’s), where he helped guide growth across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East.

Beyond his leadership roles, Beacham has been an active advisor and board member, supporting innovative companies such as Virtual Dining Concepts, LANDED, and H&A Farms. His background also includes senior positions with Marriott Hotels and the New Jersey State Chamber of Commerce, as well as teaching restaurant management as an adjunct professor at New Jersey universities. Recognized for his ability to balance brand tradition with innovation, he is a frequent speaker at industry events, including FS/TEC, RLC, and Prosper, where he addressed strategies for igniting growth in legacy brands.

Beacham’s educational foundation includes study at Valley Forge Military Academy and The George Washington University, and advanced studies at Harvard Business School. His extensive global experience and passion for hospitality continue to shape his leadership at California Pizza Kitchen, where he is guiding the iconic brand into its next phase of growth.

Yael Cosset

EVP & Chief Digital Officer Kroger

Yael leads technology and digital capabilities for The Kroger Co., redefining the customer experience through our seamless ecosystem, and making the lives of our associates easier through innovative and intuitive data and technology enabled solutions. He works closely with senior business stakeholders to establish innovative and reliable technology platforms that allow Kroger to continually transform and adapt to a rapidly changing food and retail landscape. Yael also leads our Alternative Profit portfolio of businesses, including insight and media focused subsidiary – 84.51° and our financial services entity – Kroger Personal Finance, all contributing to redefining the retail business model.

Prior to his current position, Yael was group vice president and chief digital officer, where he led the company’s overall digital growth strategy, e-commerce expansion and Vitacost business. He also previously served as chief commercial officer and chief information officer of 84.51° since its inception in 2015. Prior to this, he held several leadership roles at dunnhumby USA, LLC, including executive vice president of consumer markets, global chief information officer, and chief executive officer of KSS Retail, a dunnhumby company and global enterprise software provider of price modeling and optimization solutions for retailers worldwide.

Myron Frazier

EVP & Chief Merchant Sam's Club

Myron Frazier is Chief Merchandising Officer for Sam’s Club, leading the merchandising strategy to drive innovation, deliver value and elevate the member experience through a curated assortment.
Since joining Walmart in 2008, Myron has built a broad career across merchandising and operations in Walmart U.S. and Sam’s Club, holding roles ranging from Replenishment Analyst, Merchandise Planner, and Buyer in Fresh Bakery to field leadership positions as Developmental Market Manager and Market Manager in various regions.
In 2017, he joined Sam’s Club in a senior merchandising leadership role, ultimately serving as Senior Vice President of Private Brands and Sourcing. In this capacity, he led the reinvention of the Member’s Mark brand and championed the Made Without commitment through expanded responsible sourcing.
Most recently, Myron served as Senior Vice President and Business Lead for Walmart Neighborhood Markets, leading the strategy and evolution of the format. Known for his collaborative, people-first leadership style, Myron is passionate about developing talent and building strong teams.
Myron holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Southern University and an MBA.

Aaron Cheris

Global Retail Practice Head & Senior Partner Bain

Aaron Cheris is the global Head of our Retail practice, and a member of our Private Equity and Customer Strategy & Marketing practices, with particular emphasis on customer loyalty and NPS across industries. He joined the firm in 1996.

While at Bain, Aaron has worked in a broad range of retail sectors and formats, including department stores, specialty footwear and apparel (retailers and brands), online pure plays, online gaming, grocery, club, sporting goods, consumer electronics, jewelry, pet, health & beauty, kiosk, health clubs, optical and restaurants (QSR, coffee, FC and CDR).

His experience includes leading engagements in corporate and brand strategy, new concept development, omnichannel strategy, localization, customer segmentation, customer loyalty & rewards, development/real estate strategy, organization/operating model and private equity due diligence.

Outside of his work at Bain, Aaron has worked with the San Francisco 49ers and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, and spent five years on the board of directors of Cycle Gear.

Aaron earned an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business (Arjay Miller Scholar and Siebel Scholar) and received bachelor's degrees in economics and political science at Occidental College in Los Angeles (graduated magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa).

Adam Constantine

CEO & Founder ACE Creatives

Adam Constantine is the Founder and CEO of ACE Creatives, a full-service social media agency crafting digital content to maximize ROI and brand affinity. With a decade of experience, Adam has curated captivating content for creators, brands, and Fortune 500 companies, including Mr. Beast, Amazon, and Champion. Since founding ACE Creatives in 2017, Adam has created digital strategies, social media, and full-scale productions across the retail/e-commerce, hospitality, and automotive industries. A 6x Telly Awards recipient, with a 6’8″ frame and an ever-growing shoe collection, Adam is passionate about the art of digital storytelling and strategies for building a powerful social media presence that connects brands with audiences that matter the most.

Ajay Salpekar

GM, Beauty & F&B TikTok Shop

Ajay Salpekar is the General Manager of Beauty and F&B at TikTok Shop in the US. He has been with the company since 2023, leading the growth of makeup, fragrance, and skincare brands within this fast-growing category. TikTok Shop is helping beauty and consumer goods brands leverage TikTok's vibrant creator community and get discovered by new shoppers.
In his role, Ajay works with brands of all sizes, from entrepreneurs and small businesses to large, global brands to craft their TikTok Shop strategy. This includes advising brands on how to get the most out of TikTok Shop, including choosing products that are on-trend, finding creative ways to launch new products through TikTok, and matching them with the most relevant creators.
Ajay is a longtime digital commerce leader in the consumer goods space, with experience growing brands on both the brand and platform side. Prior to TikTok Shop, he led Unilever's ecommerce business in the US, and held multiple retail and technology roles at Amazon and Microsoft. Ajay's TikTok is filled with cooking recipes, car reviews, #FragranceTok, and stand-up comedy.

Alison Servi

President Herman-Scheer

Alison Servi builds brands by challenging how they think, not just what they say—and she’s spent her career on both sides of the shopper relationship, advising major retailers and sitting at the brand strategy table.

She’s worked in retail for over a decade, consulting for companies including Target (where she helped shape grocery strategy from Day 1), Best Buy, and REI. That close-up view of how people actually shop now anchors her brand work: she scaled a boutique insights firm from $6M to $40M, then led strategy and insights at Material, where she was brought in to integrate capabilities and push the organization toward a more future-facing model.

Today, Alison is an owner of Herman-Scheer, a brand strategy consultancy focused on helping companies earn a meaningful role in people’s lives. Her perspective is simple: most brands don’t have a relevance problem—they have a clarity and courage problem.

Her work cuts through the noise, aligning brand, experience, and business strategy around real human needs. Drawing on behavioral science and a background in learning and organizational change, she focuses on what actually drives adoption and purchase—designing strategies that don’t just sound right, but change behavior over time. She frames the shopper challenge simply: brands have to be both stoppable and shoppable.

A sought-after speaker on turning insight into action, Alison most recently took the stage at the 2026 Ignite: CPG conference on data and decision-making. She believes relevance isn’t something you claim—it’s something you prove, daily. She helps brands make that shift

Aliza Freud

Founder and CEO SheSpeaks

Aliza Freud is the Founder & CEO of SheSpeaks, a influencer-powered media and performance company helping brands turn authentic social storytelling into measurable business results. A former Vice President of Global Marketing at American Express, she founded SheSpeaks in 2008 with a belief that trusted voices would reshape how consumers discover and buy. Today, SheSpeaks partners with leading brands to transform influencer content into high-performing advertising across paid social, CTV, retail media, and programmatic channels; positioning influencer as a true performance media channel, not just a marketing tactic. Aliza is a recognized industry voice on the future of creator-led media and hosts a top-rated podcast, SheSpeaks: Women of Influence, where she explores how storytelling drives culture, commerce, and measurable success.

Andrew Krysiak

VP, Digital Good Food Holdings

Andrew Krysiak is Vice President of Digital at Good Food Holdings, where he leads digital commerce, marketing, and innovation strategy across a multi-banner portfolio of premium grocery brands. With more than 20 years of experience in e-commerce and retail operations, Andrew specializes in scaling digital businesses, driving profitability, and building high-performance teams in complex, fast-moving environments.

Over the course of his career, Andrew has consistently delivered outsized results—most notably leading 12x revenue growth and 23x EBITDA expansion within a key business unit, while sustaining double-digit CAGR across enterprise-wide digital initiatives. He has architected and executed major platform partnerships, including large-scale integrations with Instacart, DoorDash, Amazon, and Uber generating tens of millions in incremental revenue and redefining omnichannel customer experiences.

Andrew’s leadership spans both digital and physical retail, giving him a rare operator’s perspective on end-to-end commerce—from store-level turnarounds to enterprise digital transformation. He is known for combining deep analytical rigor with decisive execution, aligning cross-functional teams across marketing, finance, IT, and operations to deliver measurable business outcomes.

A bilingual leader (English and Spanish) with a bachelor’s degree from Furman University and a master’s degree from the University of Southern California, Andrew brings a pragmatic, results-oriented approach to navigating disruption in retail and digital commerce. He frequently speaks on topics including omnichannel growth strategy, digital transformation, and driving EBITDA through innovation.

Andrew Lederman

VP, Global Digital Commerce Mondelēz International

Andrew Lederman is a seasoned digital commerce executive with deep experience driving global transformation across the consumer-goods industry. He is Vice President of Global Digital Commerce at Mondelēz International, where he leads a $3B+ business focused on accelerating growth through data-driven strategy, emerging commerce platforms, and operational excellence. Earlier, Andrew was part of the founding team at OpenSky, later acquired by Alibaba, and helped launch and scale BEES at AB InBev, one of the world’s largest B2B commerce platforms. Known for bringing startup agility into large-scale organizations, he is recognized for his strategic vision, disciplined execution, and ability to build high-performing, future-ready teams.

Andrew Lipsman

Independent Analyst & Consultant Media, Ads + Commerce

Andrew Lipsman is an independent analyst and consultant at Media, Ads + Commerce. His industry coverage specializes in retail media, which he is known for anointing as “digital advertising’s third big wave.

Previously, Andrew was a VP & Principal Analyst at eMarketer, where he covered retail & ecommerce and led the retail media practice. Before that, he was SVP of Marketing & Insights at comScore overseeing the company’s global marketing insights and thought leadership initiatives.

He is a frequent speaker at industry events like ShopTalk, GroceryShop, NRF Big Show, Advertising Week NY, and Cannes Lions, and has been published multiples times in the Journal of Advertising Research.

Andrew Pearson

Head of Content, North America Diageo

With a 20+ year career spanning advertising, strategy and marketing roles across North America, the Middle East and Southern Africa, Andrew Pearson has created award-winning brand, experiential, digital and earned media campaigns across almost every category imaginable.
A seasoned team leader and strategic thinker, Andrew’s brand and category background ranges from automotive, gaming, technology, cellular and beverage alcohol to CPG, personal care, fashion, lifestyle, financial and more. An experienced manager, adept at leading diverse, high performing teams, he is a passionate mentor with a strong focus on developing diverse BIPOC talent.
Prior to his most recent role as the Head of Content for Diageo North America, Andrew oversaw the marketing, communications strategy and campaign development for Pernod Ricard's tequila & mezcal portfolio and Chivas Regal Scotch whiskey. He also led the creative and strategy departments at Havas Formula & Havas Street North America, having crossed the pond from Havas Worldwide Dubai where he led the creative and content development teams. Before moving abroad, his experience back home included prestigious network agencies such as Ogilvy, FCB and Saatchi, as well as one of the country’s best independent agencies at the time, FoxP2.

Anouck Gotlib

CEO Belgian Boys

Anouck Gotlib, CEO of Belgian Boys, is on a mission to create whole ingredient foods with a European twist so families can prep less, smile more, and indulge better. Belgian Boys is in the business of fun, offering their delicious products in 12000 retailers such as Costco, Target, Walmart, Kroger. She leads a passionate team dedicated to growing more than just a revenue-driven business, creating joy for customers and spreading sweetness in people's lives.

Anouck and her husband Greg founded Belgian Boys in 2015 and she spent the first few years of company history applying her background in fashion design to the Belgian Boys brand aesthetic and packaging. In 2019 she became the company’s CEO.

Anouck was named an EY Winning Woman and has been featured in has been featured in Forbes, Nasdaq, Business Insider, and more. Anouck and Greg live in Brooklyn, NY with their three sons who start each day with Belgian Boys mini pancakes.

Ashley Becker

VP, Global eCommerce Capabilities Kraft-Heinz

Ashley Becker is Vice President, Global eCommerce Capabilities at Kraft Heinz, where she helps shape the digital tools, operating models, and global ways of working that enable eCommerce growth across markets and customers. A brand builder and commercial leader, Ashley has spent 13 years at Kraft Heinz across marketing, eCommerce, omnichannel customer growth, and operations. She spent half of her Kraft Heinz career leading marketing and growth strategies for some of the company’s most iconic brands, including Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs and Lunchables.

Ashley brings a practical, enterprise-wide perspective on how brands can translate consumer insight, customer execution, and technology into scalable growth. Before joining Kraft Heinz, she began her career in operations in the semiconductor industry. She also volunteers with Tech2Empower, a nonprofit that helps women’s rights and social justice organizations access technology, tools, and training to amplify their impact. Ashley holds a master’s degree from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

Babir Sultan

President & CEO FavTrip

Babir Sultan is an accomplished entrepreneur, public speaker, and marketing professional with over 20 years of experience in the retail, creativity and gas station industries. As the president of multiple gas stations and founder of FavMarketing Co., Babir excels at combining data-driven strategies with innovative marketing to drive business growth. His creative content has reached millions monthly through platforms like YouTube, where he has built a loyal community with his channel, FavTrip.

Known for his leadership and adaptability, Babir inspires teams by leading with kindness, empathy, and a solutions-focused mindset. He is passionate about leveraging technology, including machine learning and data visualization, to enhance operational efficiency and customer experience.

Beyond his professional achievements, Babir is a family man, devoted father of four, and a husband. He values continuous learning, creativity, and health, recently achieving significant personal milestones in fitness and well-being. His adventurous spirit fuels his passion for travel, with aspirations to explore destinations like Japan and Morocco. Babir's storytelling prowess, whether through marketing or his creative scriptwriting, reflects his deep commitment to sharing impactful and meaningful narratives.

In every endeavor, Babir remains dedicated to uplifting his community, supporting charitable causes, and innovating for a better future.

Ben Lewis

Co-Founder & CEO Little Spoon

Ben Lewis is an entrepreneur, operator, and angel investor with deep expertise at the intersection of consumer brands, food innovation, supply chain, and technology. Over the past decade, Ben has developed a comprehensive understanding of launching, capitalizing, scaling, and operating modern consumer brands.

Currently, Ben is CEO and Co-Founder of Little Spoon, the #1 online baby and kids food brand, recognized as one of the largest and fastest-growing direct-to-consumer food companies in the U.S. On a mission to make parents' lives easier and kids healthier, Little Spoon feeds nearly 3% of American babies and has delivered more than 100 million meals nationwide

Under Ben's leadership, the company has cultivated a highly engaged and loyal customer community, while setting new standards for quality, transparency, and innovation. His work has helped raise the bar across the industry, pushing forward a more modern, values-driven model for how brands serve families.

A founder-operator at heart, Ben previously founded and scaled several ventures, including a CPG yogurt brand and a national food and beverage distribution company with a nimble, just-in-time perishable supply chain. Along the way, Ben spotted early trends and helped cultivate new categories such as cold pressed juice and cold brew coffee – helping to pioneer them from niche, emerging concepts to everyday staples.

As an active angel investor and startup advisor, Ben has invested in more than 30 disruptive, high-growth companies across a variety of consumer sectors. He also partners with investment funds to scout, vet and advise companies for their portfolios. For his own companies, Ben has raised nearly $100 million of venture capital and growth equity.

Ben has been honored as a EY Entrepreneur of the Year nominee, a recognition of his impact and leadership in shaping the future of consumer brands. Equally important to him is building strong company cultures – he takes pride in leading teams known for their high retention, deep engagement, and lasting impact.

Ben thrives on innovation, thoughtful design, healthy living, food, and finding simple solutions to complex challenges. Originally from Pittsburgh, Ben splits his time between New York City and Miami.

Ben Miller

Founder & Director Bryher Bay Ventures

Ben is an independent retail analyst, specializing in the grocery sector, with nearly 30 years global industry experience. He helps retailers and consumer brands understand key industry trends, and supports technology innovators and consultants to be discovered by trade partners.

Ben’s experience combines retailer central office roles, content creation and working for the leading industry event in the sector. Ben held marketing, commercial and investor relation roles at Safeway; was Chief Content Officer for grocery research organisation IGD, and VP of Original Content at Shoptalk & Groceryshop, until he left in June 2026 to establish Bryher Bay Ventures.

Ben lives in London, England, and splits his time between Europe and North America, as he has done for most of the previous two decades.

Benoit Vatere

Chief Media & Digital Commerce Officer Liquid Death

Benoit Vatere is the chief media officer of Liquid Death, one of the fastest growing non-alcoholic beverage brands. Liquid Death uses comedy and entertainment to make health and sustainability 50 times more fun. It takes low-calorie beverages and packages them into infinitely recyclable cans that compete with the fun marketing of unhealthy brands across beer and junk food. Its product lines include mountain water, soda-flavored sparkling water, iced tea, and energy. A portion of Liquid Death’s proceeds helps kill plastic pollution.
Prior to Liquid Death, Benoit founded Mammoth Media, a digital-to-retail technology company where he built and executed strategic digital media campaigns with focus on incrementality for leading CPG brands such as Pepsi, Lemon Perfect, 7 Eleven, and Siete. Before Mammoth Media, Benoit served as the CEO of mobile gaming monetization platform Playhaven and co-founded conversion optimization company magnify360.
Benoit holds a master's degree in engineering and a marketing degree from École Nationale Supérieure des Sciences Agronomiques de Bordeaux

Brian Monahan

SVP, Retail Media Albertsons Media Collective

Brian Monahan, SVP of Retail Media, leads Albertsons Media Collective, the retail media arm of Albertsons Companies. Built on rich first-party data and a deep understanding of Albertsons shoppers, Brian is accelerating the Collective’s growth through innovation and deep partnerships. Focused on the relationship between retailer, brand and shopper, Brian recognizes retail media’s role in shaping the future of commerce media.

With a true passion for retail media, Brian has had a storied career across media, retail and platforms. Prior to joining Albertsons, he led global client relationships at dentsu, along with the company’s global retail media solution. He previously led eCommerce marketing at Walmart and helped launch their RMN 10 years ago. Brian also spent time at Pinterest, where he spearheaded industry marketing. In addition to his roles across notable enterprises, Brian also has a passion for building and has founded four different companies as part of his entrepreneurial endeavors.

As a well-respected industry trailblazer and thought leader, Brian has been recognized for his strategic, innovative approach in the American Advertising Federation Hall of Achievement, the Bay Area Innovation Group’s Hall of Fame and as an Ad:TechIndustry Innovator. Outside of work, Brian volunteers with the San Francisco Unified School District, the Ad Council, the Gun Safety Alliance and ExtraFood.org.

Bryan Gildenberg

Managing Director Retail Cities

Bryan Gildenberg is the North American Managing Director for Retail Cities, and the founder of Confluencer Commerce. His roles help brands, retailers and their solution partners build strategies to win in the changing retail world.
Previously, he served as the SVP, Commerce, for the Omnicom Commerce Group (OCG), a community of best in class consultancy, creativity and capability in retail, shopper and commerce marketing, focused on driving sales growth through increased conversion. Prior to Omnicom Bryan led global retail research for Kantar’s retail practice. His perspective has been featured on broadcast media such as CNBC, Fox Business, and the BBC, and he is frequently cited in a range of U.S. and global business publications. An engaging speaker, Bryan has addressed thousands of industry/corporate meetings over his near 25-year career.
Bryan earned an MBA summa cum laude from Babson College and an undergraduate degree from Cambridge University in Cambridge, England.

Casey Lissau

EVP, Executive Creative Director Saatchi X

Casey Lissau is Executive Vice President of Creative at Saatchi X, where he leads the agency's creative vision and helps global brands modernize content creation through creative automation, AI, and commerce-driven marketing. Over his 20+ year career, his work has been recognized by Cannes Lions, the Effie Awards, the REGGIE Awards, D&AD, The One Show, The Drum Awards, Lürzer's Archive, and the Shorty Awards. Casey has spent the past six years leading creative commerce initiatives for global CPG companies including Procter & Gamble, The Kraft Heinz Company, and The J.M. Smucker Company, helping some of the world's largest brands scale creative excellence across today's increasingly complex retail and commerce ecosystem.

Chad Petersen

SVP, Digital & Ecommerce Lowes Foods

Chad Petersen is a senior eCommerce and omnichannel executive with more than 26 years of experience leading enterprise digital transformation across retail and consumer businesses. He currently serves as Senior Vice President of Digital and eCommerce for Alex Lee, Inc., where his team oversees omnichannel strategy for more than 150 stores across their Lowes Foods, KJ’s Market, and IGA banners. Chad’s organization is responsible for digital platforms, eCommerce fulfillment and logistics, marketplaces, BOPIS, personal shopping programs, and the end-to-end digital guest experience. He is passionate about building high-performing teams who can scale omnichannel capabilities that drive enterprise growth.

Chad Lusk

Partner & Managing Director Alvarez & Marsal Consumer and Retail Group

Chad Lusk is a Managing Director with Alvarez & Marsal, Consumer and Retail Group, where he specializes in large-scale transformations across consumer-facing industries, with a focus on growth strategy, commercial excellence, marketing, innovation and operationalizing stand-out customer experience. In his role, Chad brings together nearly 20-years of top-tier consulting and senior executive operator experience, with a track record of accelerating revenue and earnings growth. Following his tenure at McKinsey & Company, he held multiple Chief Strategy Officer and Chief Marketing Officer positions across CPG companies and retail, including Ferrara Candy, Hostess Brands, and Mid-Atlantic Convenience Stores. Whether in client boardrooms or on podcasts and conference stages, Chad brings organizations a unique perspective on consumer behavior that translates into action.

Chris Walton

President & CEO Omni Talk

Chris Walton is a leading expert and influencer in omnichannel retailing. An accomplished Senior Executive, Chris has high-level executive experience across nearly every discipline within retail. Currently he is the President and CEO of Omni Talk, one of the fastest growing media companies in retail. He is also a Senior Contributor for Forbes, where his work has been read by over 4 million people, a regular keynote speaker, and he also sits on the Advisory Boards for Simbe, Mirakl, Buncha, and Jukee. Prior to starting Omni Talk, Chris worked for Target, where he was the Vice President of the retailer’s Store of the Future project and also the Vice President of Merchandising for Home Furnishings on Target.com. Chris began his career at Gap, Inc. and holds a BA in Economics and History from Stanford University, and an MBA from the Harvard Business School.

Christine Foster

Group VP Kroger

Christine Foster leads Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM), the retail media, consumer insights and loyalty marketing business of Kroger. She is responsible for casting the long-term vision and overseeing the daily operations that fuel brand growth through partnerships with Kroger. As the leader of a retail data powerhouse, Christine is passionate about using precision audiences to build enduring emotional connections between brands and consumers.
Christine was honored as part of the 2025 class of Ad Age Leading Women in advertising. In 2024, she was recognized as a Retail Innovator Award winner by Retail Touchpoints, a Top Woman in Grocery: Senior-Level Executive by Progressive Grocer and Women of Excellence: Industry Impact by Path to Purchase.
Prior to 84.51°, Christine held multiple positions in digital marketing. Her career has spanned all sides of media. Christine currently serves on several industry advisory boards and holds a Bachelor of Science in telecommunications and broadcast journalism from Lee University.

Courtney Owumi

VP, Consumer Experience and Membership Engagement Shipt

Courtney Owumi is a seasoned marketing executive with over a decade of experience in consumer insights and loyalty marketing strategy. She currently serves as the Vice President of Consumer Experience & Membership Engagement at Shipt, where she leads Product Marketing, Consumer Insights & Strategy, and Membership Engagement to deliver a best-in-class experience for Shipt members and provide extended value for Target Circle 360 members. Prior to her time at Shipt, Courtney served on Target’s corporate strategy team, and prior to that worked in management consulting focusing on e-commerce fulfillment strategy for retail clients.

Courtney was recently named a 2025 Top Women in Grocery by Progressive Grocer and is a passionate mentor for women in her field. Her expertise spans corporate strategy, retail, consumer packaged goods, and the gig economy, reflecting her versatility and forward-thinking mindset.

Dan Haugen

Co-Founder & COO Roxberry Naturals

Dan Haugen is the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of Roxberry Naturals, a Columbus, Ohio-based kids beverage company that created the first modern soda designed specifically for kids. A father of two, Haugen is part of the founding leadership team behind the brand, helping build a fun, kid-friendly, modern soda made with real fruits and vegetables and without artificial flavors, sweeteners, or dyes.

Haugen has helped lead Roxberry from product concept to key growth milestones in market, including the company’s national expansion into more than 2,200 Walmart stores as the first-ever kids’ beverage to enter Walmart’s Modern Soda aisle in January 2026. Under his leadership, Roxberry has expanded its reach to 4,000 doors across all 50 states with additional, major retail expansion coming in 2026.

Before co-founding Roxberry Naturals, Haugen held senior leadership roles at Abbott in strategy, sales, and operations. He earned an MBA from The Ohio State University and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Indiana University.

Daniel Tzvetkoff

CEO Stacked Farm

Daniel Tzvetkoff is the visionary founder and CEO of Stacked Farm, where his technical expertise and future-focused leadership drive our mission to transform farming for good. With a background in engineering and a career spanning fintech, adtech, and machine learning, Daniel brings decades of experience in designing high-performance systems that power real-world outcomes at scale. Before launching Stacked Farm, Daniel developed platforms for large-scale data analysis and intelligent automation—setting new benchmarks in high-load software development. His ability to build robust, adaptive infrastructure laid the groundwork for our proprietary technology and continues to inform the architecture of every system we develop. In 2016, Daniel began laying the foundations for what would become Stacked Farm. Driven by a desire to address inefficiencies in traditional agriculture, he assembled a world-class team to design an entirely new kind of farming system—one powered by automation, precision, and sustainability from the ground up. Under his leadership, Stacked Farm has engineered an end-to-end solution for fully automated vertical farming. From seeding to harvesting and packaging, Daniel has been instrumental in developing the advanced robotics, climate control systems, and data intelligence that set our operations apart. His strategic vision has not only shaped the technology, but also guided the company’s growth, from our flagship facility in Queensland to our expansion into Melbourne and the U.S. In 2025, Stacked Farm was recognised by TIME and Statista as one of the World’s Top GreenTech Companies, underscoring the impact of Daniel’s commitment to responsible innovation. Known for his clarity, pace, and systems-level thinking, Daniel leads with a relentless focus on execution. He believes in building technology that’s scalable, intelligent, and designed to solve real problems—pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in sustainable food production. At Stacked Farm, Daniel’s role extends beyond product and engineering. He plays a key role in investor engagement, strategic partnerships, and long-term planning, ensuring the company remains at the forefront of global agritech innovation.

Deborah Weinswig

Founder & CEO Coresight Research

Deborah Weinswig, CEO and Founder of Coresight Research Inc., leads the Coresight Research team to provide actionable insights and solutions for retailers and brands that accelerate innovation and growth in the fast-changing retail and technology landscape.
Deborah has been a trusted thought leader at the crossroads of technology, finance, and retail for nearly two decades. As a leading analyst and strategist, Deborah also has deep expertise in AI, Metaverse, China, livestreaming, retail media, supply chain, commercial real estate, and data monetization. In 2023, Deborah conceptualized and launched the first AI Council for the retail industry. This invitation-only organization has proven invaluable in helping brands, retailers, and technology companies navigate business in the artificial intelligence age. A member of the prestigious LinkedIn Top Voices program, Deborah is recognized as one of the top retail influencers in the world and has received multiple awards and honors for her industry leadership and impact. Deborah is passionate about fostering conversation and collaboration among the retail and technology community and supporting social and environmental causes through her research and advocacy.
Deborah has been invited to share her insights and Coresight Research data at over 200 events across the world including the Consumer Electronics Show, ShopTalk, World Retail Congress, NRF, ICSC, Money 20/20, Retail Innovation Conference & Expo, Future Stores Summit, NACDS, Total Retail Tech, Groceryshop, Women in Retail, NACS and more.  Across the globe, media outlets frequently request Deborah as a guest to provide a pulse on current industry trends and retail industry newsmakers. She has been featured on CNBC, Bloomberg, in Barron’s, The Street, NASDAQ, Fast Company, Forbes, Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Washington Post, CNN, Marketwatch, Yahoo Finance, and more. 
Before establishing Coresight in 2014, Deborah was the Managing Director of Fung Global Retail and Technology, the Group's first internal think tank and research department. Before that, she was the Managing Director of Cit1 Research's Global Staples: Consumer Discretionary team.  
Deborah serves on the advisory board of the World Retail Congress, as well as several accelerators, and on the board of directors for Primaris Canada, GUESS?, Inc., Xcel Brands, Inc., KIABI, American Apparel & Footwear Association, YPO, Goodwill Industries New York/New Jersey, and Street Soccer USA. Additionally, she is a Board Member and Co-Founder of RetailersUnited, a 501(c)(3) established to aid small brands and retailers in pandemic recovery.
Deborah is a Certified Public Accountant and holds an MBA from the University of Chicago. 

Deepak Jose

VP & Head of Data & Decision Intelligence Niagara Bottling

Deepak Jose is a purpose-led executive leader in digital transformation, data, analytics and AI with a proven track record of driving profitable growth leading a diverse, global end to end analytics team. He is currently the VP and Head of Data & Decision Intelligence at Niagara. Deepak is also a co-founder and executive director and board member of FuturED Ai, a non-profit focusing on Ai Education. He is an in-demand speaker, and analytics thought leader in the Data, Analytics and AI focusing on CPG, Retail and Manufacturing Industry. He is a member of the Forbes Tech Council, AWS Retail & CPG Executive Advisory Forum, Industry standards associations, Editorial Board for CDO magazine, and Advisor for startups and AI/ Analytics service companies.

Deepak has experience across all major global markets in multiple categories such as beverage, confectionary, gum, food, and Health & Wellness. Before Niagara, Deepak was part of global brands like Coca-Cola, Mars and ABB in strategic roles driving business growth. At Mars, as the global Head of One Demand Data and Analytics Solutions, he started the Mars AI lab driving multiple proprietary patented solutions. Deepak has an MBA from George Washington University and a Mechanical engineer from NIT Calicut, India. He completed an executive education program from Oxford University Said School of Business in Economics of Mutuality.

Deepak was awarded the Consumer Good Visionaries by CGT and RIS news, Data IQ 100 2023, 24 &25 – the 100 most influential person in Data and AI, Top 100 leaders in Data by CDO Magazine, Top 100 Innovators in Data & Analytics in by Corinium Intelligence, AI 100 - Top 100 Influencers in AI in the US by AIM Media House, Direct 60 Award for Brand Leaders at the Forefront of the Direct-to-Consumer by The Lead and. Deepak’s team is recognized by Data IQ as Best Place to work in Data and AI in 24’. He is a Distinguished Toastmaster, and he is from Kerala, India

Eric Shea

Partner, Commerce Leader PWC

Eric has 20 years of experience in Consumer Markets, working with retailers and brands to drive growth and improve performance through AI, digital, and omnichannel. He specializes in building profitable digital businesses and focuses his work on value creation: growth strategy and expansion; conversion and demand generation improvement; operating performance through operating model and process redesign; and designing and delivering modern commerce and marketing platforms including AI-enabled commerce, personalization and automation, supported by the right data and governance. He leads programs from strategy through implementation and value realization.

Prior to joining PwC/Strategy&, Eric co-founded a digital strategy and growth consultancy that was acquired in 2015.

Flavia Takey

Head of Supermarket, LATAM Mercado Libre

Flavia Takey is Mercado Libre's Head of Supermarket for Latam. She has been working at Mercado Libre since 2021. Flavia, in partnership with Meli's Marketplace, Product/IT and Operations, has been leading the turnaround of the Supermarket business to revamp its value proposition, regain profitability and grow sustainably. Prior to Meli, Flavia has worked for 15 years at Boston Consulting Group in Brazil, where she was leader of the Retail practice, with focus on Grocery and CPG. MercadoLibre hosts the largest online commerce and payments ecosystem in Latin America, enabling e-commerce and digital and mobile payments on behalf of its customers by delivering a suite of technology solutions across the complete value chain of commerce. It is based in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and present in 18 countries across Latam, including: Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru.

Gregor Murray

Co-Founder & Chief So-What Officer Digital Commerce Global

Gregor Murray is Co-founder and Chief “So What” Officer at Digital Commerce Global, where he helps the world’s leading CPG manufacturers turn digital commerce ambition into measurable growth.
Gregor has spent his entire career in CPG, working across manufacturers, retailers, and agencies, giving him a rare, end-to-end view of how digital commerce actually works in practice. For more than half of that time, he has specialized in digital commerce, leading customer accounts, building strategies, and now advising global organizations on how to develop the capabilities required to scale profitable, sustainable growth.
At DCG, Gregor works with some of the industry’s largest manufacturers to benchmark their performance against peers, identify capability gaps, and prioritize the actions that drive real commercial impact. His work focuses on cutting through noise, helping leadership teams move from opinion to evidence, and from activity to outcomes.
Known for his direct, practical style, Gregor is a regular speaker at industry events, where he challenges conventional thinking and brings clarity to the biggest questions in digital commerce today.

Guilherme Cardoso

Head of Ecommerce MC Sonae

Guilherme Cardoso leads Ecommerce at Sonae MC, the food retail arm of one of Portugal's largest business groups and home to Continente, the country's leading grocery retailer. In his current role, he holds end-to-end responsibility across Commercial, Operations, Marketing, Product and Customer — overseeing a model that leverages physical stores as fulfillment nodes and combines proprietary platforms with third-party partnerships for last-mile delivery.

His path to grocery ecommerce spans two decades across sectors: nearly ten years in telecommunications at Optimus leading marketing and brand strategy at scale, advisory work at KPMG on digital transformation and innovation, and a chapter at Sonae Sports & Fashion driving international retail expansion across European hypermarket chains — before focusing fully on ecommerce at Continente. He holds an MBA from INSEAD and a degree in Economics from the Faculdade de Economia do Porto.

A former federated basketball captain, Guilherme brings the same team-first mindset to building ecommerce operations at scale — currently from Porto, Portugal.

Ivone Lima Miranda

Head of Marketing Philips

Ivone Lima Miranda is a dynamic and innovative marketing strategist with over 20 years of experience across diverse industries and geographies. Currently serving as the Head of Marketing Excellence for Philips Personal Health North America, Ivone leads a team of 36 professionals, overseeing brand communications, PR, media activation, e-commerce, digital and consumer experience. Her innovative approach and strategic vision have driven significant growth and brand recognition, particularly through her work in digital transformation and consumer engagement.

Ivone's career is marked by her ability to blend vision, innovation, and strategy with impeccable project management and team leadership. She has a proven track record of enhancing brand visibility and consumer preference through creative media plans and influencer partnerships. Her leadership in crisis management and media relations has consistently positioned companies and products for success.
Before her current role, Ivone led the Consumer Experience, Engagement & Care team at Philips, achieving remarkable improvements in customer satisfaction and online sales. Her tenure at Philips also includes significant contributions to the Male Grooming category, where she successfully transitioned the brand to a 100% digital media plan and forged impactful media partnerships.

Ivone's earlier career includes leadership roles at Procter & Gamble, Oniway Telecom, and co-founding an advertising agency. She holds an Engineer degree in Food Science, a master’s degree in finance from Catholic University Portugal and has completed executive education at Harvard Business School. Fluent in English, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, Ivone brings a global perspective to her work.

Originally from Portugal, Ivone is a passionate advocate for women leadership and diversity. She is also a mother of four children, balancing her professional achievements with her family life. Outside of work, Ivone loves Formula 1 sports and tennis, and she enjoys traveling to explore new cultures and cuisines.

Jenny McLean

Managing Partner & Retail Industry Lead Clarkston Consulting

Jenny McLean is a transformational business leader who specializes in helping retailers and consumer products companies leverage technology to drive their growth strategy. In her role as managing partner and retail practice lead at Clarkston Consulting, Jenny combines more than 25 years of retail and technology experience with decades of success as a trusted advisor for globally recognized brands.

Jenny is passionate about helping companies develop innovative customer experiences and implementing enabling technology to drive business transformation. She has extensive experience with program management, including mergers and acquisitions and helping companies improve operational efficiency. Jenny is an enthusiastic thought leader and speaker on a variety of topics in retail and technology and was recently recognized as a 2024 Women Leader in Consulting by Consulting Magazine for her excellence in client service.

Jenny has engineering degrees in computer engineering and electrical engineering from NC State and an MBA from Duke University. She resides in Raleigh, NC with her husband and their rescue dog Rose Belle.

Jesse Itzkowitz

Chief Behavioral Scientist IPSOS

Jesse has been studying how consumers make decisions for over 20 years as a PhD student, marketing professor, and most recently as a behavioral scientist at Ipsos. He earned PhDs in both Marketing and Cognitive Psychology. Jesse brings his deep knowledge of academic theory to enhance clients’ understanding of consumer behavior.

As Ipsos’ Chief Behavioral Scientist, he leads a team of recovering academics and applied practitioners who help clients identify, measure, and influence hidden factors that drive consumer behavior. He applies validated academic methods, theories, and principles across a suite of methodologies and consultative activities.

Through the precise and practical alignment of science to clients’ business questions, Jesse helps grow his clients’ business through new and innovative solutions into their strategic marketing initiatives: positioning, pricing, communications, packaging, and consumer experience.

Prior to helping found the Behavioral Science Center at Ipsos, Jesse was an award-winning marketing professor. Jesse was honored for his research and teaching accomplishments, winning the 2013 and 2017 Yeshiva University Professor of the Year award, being named as an AMA-Sheth Foundation fellow, and winning the 2021 Best Paper award from Financial Review, a top peer-reviewed academic journal.

His scholarly work in behavioral finance straddles psychology, marketing, and financial decisions and has been highlighted in the Wall Street Journal, Time Magazine, Bloomberg Businessweek, CNBC, and CNN.

John Conlin

SVP of Merchandising, Food & Beverage Target

John Conlin is Senior Vice President of Food & Beverage Merchandising at Target. In this role, he leads Target’s ambitious Food & Beverage strategy and is responsible for all merchandising and buying activities, as well as the company’s owned brand food portfolio and sourcing operations.

Since joining Target in 2000, John has held numerous leadership positions across merchandising and digital businesses, leading a wide range of categories including Seasonal, Home, and Apparel. Prior to his current role, he served as Senior Vice President of Properties and new store development.

Beyond his responsibilities at Target, John serves on the Board of Directors for FMI – The Food Industry Association – and as an executive board member of Achieve Twin Cities, the strategic nonprofit partner of Minneapolis Public Schools. He recently joined the MBOLD Executive Council, a coalition focused on growing innovation in food & agriculture.

John earned a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Entrepreneurship from the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire.

Joseph Yakuel

CEO WITHIN

Joe Yakuel is the founder and CEO of WITHIN, a leading Performance Branding company. WITHIN is a full-service digital media and creative agency, established in 2015, focused on maximizing profit and customer lifetime value for brands including The North Face, Ben & Jerry’s, Foot Locker, Movado Group, and Touchland. Prior to starting WITHIN, Joe held senior marketing roles at Quidsi (acquired by Amazon) and The Vitamin Shoppe, where he led both eCommerce and retail marketing. Through these experiences, he developed a deep appreciation for the D2C model and its emphasis on customer lifetime value. However, Joe discovered that most external agencies operated as vendors rather than true partners. He built WITHIN to function as an extension of its clients’ teams, using a holistic marketing approach that integrates media and creative across channels and ties every action back to core business objectives. Since 2015, WITHIN has generated more than $5 billion in revenue for its brand partners.

Katie Kobus

VP, Marketing Save a Lot

Katie Kobus is Vice President of Marketing at Save A Lot, where she leads the company's brand, customer, loyalty, and digital marketing strategy, including media, consumer insights, private brand packaging, promotional planning, and the in-store customer experience. A 16-year veteran of the company, Katie began her career as a pricing intern and has held roles across the organization before taking the helm of the Marketing team in 2021. With a passion for understanding shopper behavior, Katie focuses on helping value conscious consumers save more while building stronger connections with the brand. Since launching Save A Lot’s first-ever loyalty program, Save A Lot Rewards, in 2024, she has helped lead the company's evolving loyalty and digital engagement strategy to enhance the shopping experience and drive long-term customer value. Katie’s collaborative style drives engagement across merchandising, operations, technology, and Save A Lot's network of independent retail partners to identify changing consumer needs and create meaningful experiences that keep shoppers coming back. Katie holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Illinois University at Edwardsville.

Kevin Hartley

Co-Founder & CEO Cambio Roasters

Kevin Hartley is an interesting guy. He is an accomplished C-suite Executive with a deep passion for triple bottom line companies – those that focus on people, the planet, as well as profit. He always says that it’s so much fun to work for companies that have a bigger purpose than just themselves.

He has an impressive +35-year career in demanding leadership roles and successful P&L management of several large, innovative businesses in a variety of industries. With a solid history of transforming organizations, he is as comfortable at driving revenues as he is in building top-performing leadership teams. His successes include founding and growing Green Mountain Energy (the nation’s first deregulated electricity brand which was sold to British Petroleum for $100M in 2000), and Keurig/Green Mountain, where he helped drive Keurig’s market cap from $100M to $14B as a member of the senior leadership team.

Most recently with Cambio Roasters®, Kevin serves as Founder and CEO of a truly innovative KCup® brand specifically designed to meet the biggest unmet needs in the coffee pod aisle – a coffee pod that wins on taste, wins on recyclability, wins on values, wins on innovative packaging, and never asks the consumer to sacrifice on price.

Kevin built a best-in-class team and led the organization through brand development, proof of concept, capitalization and commercialization and launched the brand in all 50 states. Additionally, he championed a win-win product for consumers and farmers by returning 20% of all profits to coffee producers and their families. Under his leadership, Cambio launched a major new product in late 2024, introducing the World’s First Aluminum K-Cup® for Keurig brewers.

Previously, Kevin served as Chief Innovation Officer for Keurig Green Mountain®. This role challenged him to aggressively scale Keurig’s footprint by developing and executing the innovation strategy to rapidly expand into new markets and utilize IoT technologies to drive sales. Also notable, he innovated the new single-serve businesses model (Keurig Kold/Keurig Baby) and even earned a $2B+ investment from Coke. As a result, he helped sell Keurig for $14B, a market cap growth of 140X from when he joined the executive team.

Kevin received his Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing with honors from the University of Vermont. He went on to earn his Master of Business Administration degree in Finance, Strategy, and Marketing from the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating as valedictorian.

Lauren Livak Gilbert

Executive Director The Digital Shelf Institute

Lauren Livak Gilbert is Executive Director of the Digital Shelf Institute (DSI) and co-host of the Unpacking the Digital Shelf podcast. With over 10+ years of experience in digital commerce and design, Lauren is a sought-after commerce strategist for hundreds of global omnichannel brands. While at Johnson & Johnson, Lauren launched a new, successful digital strategy for its Consumer North America business. At Salsify she worked with more than 100 global brands to develop a comprehensive commerce strategy, including staffing, technology investments, and performance-based processes. And at the DSI she connects with brands, retailers, tech partners and agencies to help advance the industry with her research and content.

Leigh O'Donnell

Head of Shopper & Category Insights Kantar

Leigh O’Donnell leads the Shopper and Category Insights practice for Kantar North America. Leigh is a pioneer in shopper and consumer research, creating rich data- and story-driven solutions to guide action for clients. At Kantar, Leigh provides research and thought leadership to multinational brands, retailer, and agency clients, including Kantar’s long-running shopping attitudes tracker, ShopperScape®. Leigh is focused on driving insights and consulting across many of the critical questions in commerce today: evolution of shopping behavior, category disruption at retail, and the massive impact GLP-1 usage has on brands and retailers.
Prior to Kantar, Leigh held insights and analytics leadership roles at top consumer brands, including Mars Petcare, Mars Wrigley, Kirkland’s Home and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Leigh has studied at both Lawrence University and University of Chicago. She and her family live in Nashville.

Lisa Selk

SVP, Brand Fuel Hormel Foods

As senior vice president of Brand Fuel, Lisa Selk directs key centers of excellence—innovation, consumer insights, brand equity, digital media services, and packaging design—ensuring the company stays closely connected to consumers and ahead of emerging market trends.

Hormel Foods is a global branded food company with over $12 billion in annual revenue. Its brands include PLANTERS^®, SKIPPY^®, SPAM^®, HORMEL^® NATURAL CHOICE^®, APPLEGATE^®, COLUMBUS^®, WHOLLY^® guacamole, HORMEL^® BLACK LABEL^® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America’s most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World’s Best Companies and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts.

Selk began her career with Hormel Foods in 1998 as a food scientist in the research and development area and has since held brand management and innovation leadership roles in multiple divisions. She served as the marketing director over a portfolio of well-known Hormel Foods brands in the Grocery Products division before assuming leadership of CytoSport, Inc., in 2017. Selk was named director of Hormel Health Labs and Century Foods International following the sale of the Cytosport business to PepsiCo in 2019. She was promoted to vice president of marketing for meat products in 2020 and the vice president of Retail Marketing – Convenient Meals & Proteins in 2022. She assumed her current role in 2023.

A graduate of North Dakota State University, Selk received a bachelor’s degree in food science and a master’s degree in cereal science, followed by a master’s degree in business administration from the University of St. Thomas and has completed the Kellogg Executive Development Program at Northwestern University.
She volunteers her time in non-profits boards and community youth development programs.

Lydia Thacher

VP, Digital Commerce Dollar General

Lydia Thacher is Dollar General’s Vice President, Digital Commerce, leading growth through our digital channels and leveraging technology to innovate and disrupt traditional business models. In this role, she is responsible for developing and executing our digital strategy to enhance the customer experience and deepen loyalty, increase sales, enable retail media revenue growth and improve operational efficiency.

Lydia has been Serving Others since 2020, initially joining as a Senior Buyer. In 2021, she was promoted to Director, Digital & Site Merchandising before being promoted to Senior Director, Digital Merchandising & Commerce in 2022. She was promoted to her current role in 2025. Lydia has played a pivotal role in driving digital strategy and ecommerce growth, including leading our DoorDash partnership. As a testament to her leadership and valuable contributions, in 2024, Lydia was recognized as a Circle of Excellence winner.

Prior to Dollar General, Lydia held merchandising roles at Five Below, Hollar, Topline Corporation and ShoeDazzle.

Lydia earned her Bachelor of Arts in History from the University of California Los Angeles.

Mark Williamson

AVP Retail Media Costco Wholesale

Mark Williamson is AVP of Retail Media at Costco Wholesale, where he leads the strategic expansion of the retailer’s advertising ecosystem. A veteran of the commerce media industry, Mark brings a wealth of experience, having successfully built and scaled retail media programs at Sam’s Club, Ahold Delhaize USA, and Epsilon/CitrusAd before joining Costco in 2023.
At Costco, Mark and team are architecting a retail media platform fundamentally designed "the Costco way." Under his leadership, the network prioritizes member trust, merchant alignment, and long-term value over short-term ad monetization. Mark is highly focused on leveraging omnichannel data to bridge the gap between digital discovery and physical warehouse sales, delivering a transparent, closed-loop platform that drives provable outcomes for brand partners and optimizes experiences for members

Matt Hamory

Managing Director AlixPartners

Matt is a retail strategy and operations expert with over 28 years of experience. He advises clients on growth, transformation, and turnaround – from strategy to execution – with a focus on driving significant enterprise value improvements. Matt co-leads AlixPartners’ global grocery, retail, and wholesale practice.

He has expertise in a range of areas, including operational effectiveness (pricing, assortment and category strategy, COGS and indirect spend), M&A/transaction support (strategy, diligence, regulatory matters, and postmerger integration), and revenue/margin growth (customer experience, format strategy, footprint optimization).

He has advised retail/consumer and services clients in litigation and bankruptcy matters, including serving as an expert witness.

Matt holds a bachelor’s degree in ecology and evolutionary biology from Princeton University. Prior to AlixPartners, Matt was a principal and partner of KPMG, and a partner of Oliver Wyman (formerly Mercer Management Consulting).

Matt Van Gilder

Principal & VP, Omnichannel NexChapter

Matt Van Gilder is a seasoned retail strategist with deep roots in grocery, shaped early on by his family's grocery business, VG’s Food and Pharmacy. He brings nearly two decades of hands-on experience across the grocery landscape, from community-based retail to leading omnichannel strategy for SpartanNash, a Fortune 400 grocer and wholesaler. At SpartanNash, Matt led enterprise-wide ecommerce and digital transformation initiatives across web, app, loyalty, fulfillment, and third-party marketplaces. With expertise spanning marketing, merchandising, IT, operations, and vendor partnerships, Matt transforms complexity into clarity and actionable roadmaps. At NexChapter, he leads the omnichannel practice, helping clients create seamless, scalable strategies that drive digital engagement, customer growth, and operational performance. Matt was recognized as a Supermarket News 2026 Power List, 2025 Crain’s 40 Under 40, and a 2020 Progressive Grocer GenNext honoree for his leadership and contributions to the industry.

Matt graduated from Western Michigan University with his Master of Business Administration. He enjoys staying active outdoors, music, and spending time with his wife and two boys.

Matthew Goynes

Co-Founder & Co-CEO Grocery Dealz

Matt Goynes is a seasoned marketing and technology executive with a proven track record of driving growth, innovation, and digital transformation across the retail and consumer sectors. With more than two decades of experience in mobile marketing, e-commerce, and customer engagement, Goynes has built a reputation as both an industry pioneer and strategic leader.

Prior to joining Grocery Dealz, Goynes held leadership roles at tech startups Pixability, InMar, and InMarket, where he spearheaded initiatives that delivered measurable growth, expanded customer acquisition channels, and leveraged emerging technologies to reshape the consumer experience. Known for his ability to blend visionary strategy with hands-on execution, he has been recognized as a thought leader in mobile commerce and omni-channel marketing.

At Grocery Dealz, Goynes plays a key role in shaping the company's growth strategy and innovation roadmap, helping position the brand at the forefront of the evolving retail media landscape. His expertise in mobile engagement, data-driven marketing, and consumer insights will be instrumental in driving long-term value creation for the company, its partners, and its investors.

Michael Chong

Managing Partner, North America Retail Tata Consultancy Services

Michael Chong is Managing Consulting Partner, North America Retail Business Consulting at Tata Consultancy Services, where he leads the firm’s North America retail business consulting practice across strategy, transformation, stores, merchandising, supply chain, customer experience, and AI-enabled operating models.

In this role, Michael works with leading retailers to translate technology and AI investment into practical business change — helping organizations improve decisions, ways of working, and measurable operating performance.

Michael brings more than 25 years of global retail and consumer experience across North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia, combining senior operator roles with consulting experience. He spent a decade at Tesco in the UK and Asia, and has also held senior strategy and transformation roles at Target and Petco. His background includes consulting experience with the Boston Consulting Group.

His work focuses on turning strategy into execution, with particular emphasis on helping retailers move from AI experimentation to business impact across store operations, labor productivity, merchandising, replenishment, supply chain, customer experience, and enterprise transformation.

Michelle Evans

Global Lead, Retail & Digital Shopper Insights Euromonitor International

Michelle Evans drives Euromonitor’s retail and digital insights and engagements, providing actionable insights into where and how consumers shop, as well as the evolving path to purchase. Based in Chicago, she has more than 15 years of experience covering retail.

Clients across a range of industries tap into her in-depth knowledge of digital transformation, e-commerce, and tech innovation to accelerate growth strategies. Recognized as a retail thought leader, she was named a top retail influencer by RETHINK Retail (2021-2026). She leads the NRF’s Industry Partner Council as a member of the steering committee.

She has shared her expertise across industry events, including NRF: Retail’s Big Show, Shoptalk, Groceryshop, World Retail Congress, Money20/20, Finovate and eTail. Leveraging her master’s degree in journalism from Northwestern University, she has a reoccurring column in Forbes and is regularly quoted in publications globally.

Neil Saunders

Managing Director GlobalData

Neil is Managing Director of GlobalData’s retail division – a practice that was born out of the retail analyst firm Conlumino he founded in 2011, which was subsequently acquired by GlobalData. In his role he oversees the development of the company’s proposition and its research output. He also works with major retail clients worldwide to help them understand the retail, shopper, and market landscapes – advising them on how best to develop, evolve and implement business strategies. Prior to his current role, Neil worked for the John Lewis Partnership where he was involved, among other things, in the planning and relocation of new stores, the development of the ecommerce business, and the creation of technical and information systems. Neil lives in Scottsdale, Arizona and in Maui, Hawai’i.

Oliver Leigh

Co-Founder & CEO Portal

Oliver Leigh is Co Founder and CEO of Portal, the analytics platform that helps consumer brands understand what happens after a shopper clicks a retail media advert. Working with global brands including L'Oreal, Beiersdorf, Karo Healthcare, Kenvue and Coca-Cola, Portal sits between the consumer and the retail environment, capturing rich session data relating to brand owned offsite media and feeding data into a proprietary conversion probability model. This gives marketers a clearer, more defensible view of onsite performance across major retailer websites, closing the offsite media measurement gap that has long left post click activity opaque.

Oliver founded Portal to bring the same rigour to retail media that marketers expect elsewhere in their media mix, and continues to lead the company's product and commercial direction.

At Groceryshop 2026 in Las Vegas, Oliver will present Portal's approach to measuring offsite retail media, making the case for brands to demand more accountability from their retail media spend. He will also cover how retailers can benefit from Portal's infrastructure, and what both sides need from analytics to keep pace with the category's growth.

Pankaj Chopra

VP and Head of Data, Analytics & AI Edgewell Personal Care

Pankaj Chopra is a senior executive in Data, Analytics, and AI, currently serving as Vice President and Head of Data, Analytics & AI at Edgewell Personal Care, where he leads enterprise initiatives that drive AI-powered decision-making and business transformation. Over a career spanning Johnson & Johnson, Procter & Gamble, and Mondelez, he has built and led global analytics organizations and deployed AI at scale across multi-billion-dollar businesses.

In addition to his corporate role, Pankaj is Adjunct Faculty and Executive in Residence at Rutgers Business School, where he teaches AI to MBA students and advises the Dean on integrating AI into the school's curriculum and broader academic strategy. He is a sought-after keynote speaker who has presented at leading global conferences on AI, analytics, and leadership.

He has been recognized with several industry and academic honors, which is a reflection of his unique ability to bridge technology, strategy, and human behavior to drive real-world impact.

Parbinder Dhariwal

VP, General Manager, CVS Media Exchange (CMX) CVS Health

Parbinder is the Vice President / General Manager of CVS Media Exchange (CMX), CVS Health’s top-ranked retail media network. He oversees sales, strategic development, operations, marketing, business intelligence, product, and strategic operations.

Parbinder has spent his career building and transforming world-class teams in the digital advertising ecosystem, with growth and consumers at the core. Before joining CVS in 2022, he led and in-sourced the media business for Walmart Connect. Joining Walmart in 2019, he oversaw everything Beauty, Personal Care, and Health and Wellness, leading a multidisciplined team that helped grow Walmart Connect’s Supplier and Merchant partnerships across the category.

From 2018-2019, he worked with leading media industry CEOs, consulting to drive strategic change, digital growth, and change management. From 2016 until he left at the end of 2017, he was the VP of Global Accounts at Spotify, working across the business's largest Global advertisers to transform partnerships across the platform, building the discipline of dealmaking with critical partners across the streaming giant.

Between 2012 and 2015, he and his family resided in Barcelona, where he was the CRO, leading the global sales and operations for Softonic, a software download company. And previously to this, he worked on various businesses as VP and Director in London and New York for CBS Interactive.

Parbinder resides in Brooklyn, New York

Peter Strong

Partner The Partnering Group

Peter Strong is a Partner at The Partnering Group, where he specializes in helping retailers, consumer products companies, and technology companies accelerate growth through digital commerce, strategic transformation, and capability building.
Peter brings deep expertise at the intersection of eCommerce, digital strategy, and organizational change, advising clients on how to modernize commercial models, unlock online growth, and build the internal capabilities required to sustain performance. His work focuses on translating strategy into execution—aligning teams, processes, and technology to deliver measurable business impact.
He partners closely with senior leaders to:
•            Define and activate eCommerce and omnichannel growth strategies
•            Design digital-first operating models that integrate sales, marketing, and supply chain
•            Lead enterprise transformation initiatives, including change management and capability development
•            Strengthen retailer–supplier collaboration in an increasingly digital ecosystem
Prior to joining TPG, Peter held leadership roles across both retail and CPG, including leading digital commerce at Mars Wrigley and omnichannel initiatives at Meijer. This dual perspective enables him to bring a pragmatic, partnership-oriented approach to solving complex commercial challenges.
Peter is also an active thought partner in the industry, contributing to the advancement of digital commerce capabilities and next-generation retail strategies.

Petr Lizner

Head of Strategy & Growth Rohlik Group

Petr Lizner is Director of Strategy & Growth at Rohlik Group, one of Europe’s leading online grocery platforms. Over his tenure, he has held multiple roles spanning new market expansion, FP&A, fundraising, M&A, and the development of new revenue streams.
During his four years at the company, Petr has played a key part in driving strategic growth. In his various roles he has supported Rohlik’s scale-up from approximately $300 million in revenue to over $1.7 billion. The business ranks among the fastest-growing online grocers in Europe, delivering annual growth exceeding 30% year-on-year in it’s current scale.
Prior to joining Rohlik Group, Petr held strategy and finance roles at PwC’s consulting practice and PepsiCo.

Rachel Dalton

Head of Retail Insights, North America Kantar

Rachel is the Head of Retail Insights, Americas, at Kantar, focusing on digital commerce, omnichannel acceleration, and retail strategies. She leads a team of subject-matter experts who deliver industry-leading thought leadership across all channels within the Americas marketplace. She has an extensive background in brand and global business management from her work leading strategic planning, new product development, commercial planning, and a range of marketing initiatives across a variety of CPG brands and categories. Rachel holds a bachelor’s degree from Connecticut College and an MBA from Cornell University. Rachel also co-hosts the Kantar Retail Sound Bites podcast and has been featured and quoted in numerous media outlets as a sought-after retail expert.

Rachel Tipograph

Co-Host Brave Commerce

Rachel Tipograph has considered herself amongst the digerati since the moment she became an eBay power user at 13. After joining Gap as the company’s youngest-ever Global Director of Digital and Social Media, where she oversaw strategy, implementation and measurement, Rachel traveled the world for 100 days and then founded MikMak, a global eCommerce enablement and analytics platform for multichannel brands.

Since then, MikMak has earned recognition for its workplace culture and DE&I efforts as a “Fastest Growing Company in America” and “Best Place to Work” by Inc Magazine, “#10 Startup in the United States” by LinkedIn, “Breakthrough Brand” by Interbrand and “Nineteen Technologies Underpin AI And Analytics For Retail” by Forrester.

Rachel has also been recognized as a thought leader by leading media publications including Forbes (“30 under 30 Who Are Changing The World”), Fast Company ("The Most Creative People in Business") AdAge ("The Most Creative People of The Year"), Adweek ("The Young Influentials Shaping Business and Culture"), Entrepreneur ( "50 Most Daring Entrepreneurs" and "100 Women of Impact"), Inc (“Female Founders 100”), Marie Claire ("The 50 Most Influential Women in America"), Business Insider (“New York Tech’s Coolest People"), Goldman Sachs ("100 Most Intriguing Entrepreneurs"), Refinery29 ("Rising Female Tech Stars"), The Wrap ("The 11 Change Agents Disrupting Hollywood"), and LinkedIn ("Next Wave: Top Professionals 35 & Under"). She has also been named to the "Advertising Hall of Achievement” by the American Advertising Federation.

Rob Petrosino

Chief Innovation Officer PeakActivity

Rob Petrosino is a distinguished digital innovation expert and keynote speaker with over 10 years of experience guiding Fortune 100 companies and defense organizations through technological advancements. As the Chief Innovation Officer at PeakActivity, he leads initiatives in spatial computing, digital twins, generative AI, and machine learning, driving innovation across sectors like retail, manufacturing, B2B, and education. In addition to his corporate endeavors, Rob serves as a Strategic Engagement Advisor for Artificial Intelligence at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), focusing on AI's impact on national security. His insights have been featured in Forbes, and he has appeared on the Today Show, discussing the latest advancements in technology. His dynamic presentations transform complex tech trends into actionable business strategies, making him a sought-after speaker at conferences and workshops worldwide. Rob's passion for demystifying emerging technologies continues to inspire organizations globally, positioning him as a leading voice in digital innovation. Step into a high-impact session with Rob Petrosino, Chief Innovation Officer, as he breaks down how AI agents are redefining workforce optimization at scale. Working alongside publicly traded companies and regional telecommunications leaders, Rob has helped transform sales and engineering operations through real-world agentic implementations that drive speed, precision, and measurable results. In this session, he will reveal how to unlock these opportunities inside your own organization, focusing on crafting the right experience first and powering it with the right technology. This is not theory, it is a practical playbook for turning AI agents into a competitive advantage.

Sabrina McPherson

SVP Publicis Sapient

Sabrina McPherson is a Senior Vice President at Publicis Sapient, where she co-founded the management consulting practice. Sabrina is a recognized leader in AI-powered business transformation, regularly partnering with leading retailers and consumer product organizations to design agentic solutions that deliver measurable shareholder value and groundbreaking enterprise growth. Her expertise fuses business strategy, consumer experience, and technology/data to drive pioneering change—from next-generation e-commerce and digital loyalty to core operating model reinvention. As a trusted strategic advisor, Sabrina has guided Fortune 500 CPG and retail clients through digital-first business model innovation, cultural transformation, and large-scale AI adoption, resulting in agile, customer-centric organizations equipped for the future of commerce. Her work is distinguished by a relentless focus on enabling clients to move beyond incremental digital adoption, unlocking true business agility and market differentiation.

Samhita Karnati

Co-Founder & CEO Shelflife

Samhita Karnati is the founder and CEO of Shelflife, the expiration intelligence platform for grocery retail. Shelflife captures expiration data across date-coded perishables, from receiving through sale, giving retailers real-time visibility into what is fresh, what is aging, and what is about to be lost. That visibility cuts the time spent on manual expiration tracking, reduces shrink, and recovers margin that would otherwise expire on the shelf. Shelflife is the first system to build a real-time expiration-to-sales dataset and is turning that data into a suite of tools to optimize in-store operations. Before founding Shelflife, Samhita was a data engineer and product manager at Handshake. She holds a degree in computer science from Princeton and an MBA from Wharton.

Shweta Prabhu

VP, Digital, Ecommerce, MarTech, Loyalty, Data Analytics & AI, Enterprise Systems Giant Eagle

Shweta Prabhu is the Vice President of Software Engineering at Giant Eagle, leading Digital, eCommerce, Artificial Intelligence, Data Engineering & Analytics, Marketing Technology, Loyalty, Enterprise Systems and Agile Transformation for the enterprise. Shweta has 20 years of experience leading large scale digital transformations working as a Digital Strategy and Technology Leader delivering complex digital products for internal and external stakeholders.  Her experiences includes building omnichannel e-commerce solutions across web and mobile, standing up a Retail Media Network and developing a promotion and personalization engine to promote better customer experience and driving an integrated data and insights strategy for Giant Eagle.

Snehal Pokharkar

Partner Ernst & Young

Snehal Pokharkar is a Partner in the EY Technology Consulting practice, where she helps leading consumer products and life sciences companies turn AI ambition into measurable business value. She advises clients on AI strategy, data and technology transformation, helping organizations accelerate growth, improve operations and drive innovation.

From developing machine learning algorithms early in her academic career to leading the development of AI-powered solutions today, she is passionate about helping organizations harness emerging technologies to solve complex business challenges.

Snehal has extensive experience helping companies build AI-ready data foundations, implement responsible AI frameworks and scale enterprise AI capabilities. She works closely with business and technology leaders to translate AI investments into practical, tangible outcomes while helping organizations navigate change with confidence.

Sylvia Bronson

Chief Marketing Officer Scheid Family Wine

Sylvia Bronson is Chief Marketing Officer at Scheid Family Wines, where she leads global brand strategy, innovation, and commercialization for a growing portfolio of estate-driven, certified sustainable wines. With nearly two decades of experience across wine and spirits, Sylvia thrives at the intersection of brand building, data-driven growth, and sustainable business practices.

She began her career at E. & J. Gallo Winery and went on to hold multiple leadership roles at Constellation Brands, including Global Marketing Director for the Imports division and head of Innovation Commercialization, where she launched and scaled both wine and spirits brands. She later served as Head of Marketing at Bently Heritage Estate Distillery, expanding her expertise into craft spirits and estate production.

At Scheid Family Wines, Sylvia has been instrumental in developing long-term strategic planning, advancing innovation pipelines, and integrating data and technology to drive smarter, more sustainable growth. Her work reflects a commitment to building brands that balance commercial success with environmental stewardship and evolving consumer expectations. In 2025, she was named a Wine Industry Leader by Wine Business Monthly, recognized for her strategic vision, collaborative spirit, clarity, momentum, and results.

Sylvia holds an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management and is WSET Level 2 certified in both wine and spirits. She lives in the Lake Tahoe area with her family; in her spare time, Sylvia can be found skiing in the winter and trail running or stand-up paddleboarding in the summer.

Tandy Harvey

CEO National Co+Op Grocers

Tandy S. Harvey is NCG’s Chief Executive Officer with more than 30 years of leadership experience in the wholesale and retail food industry. She began her career at SuperValu, rising from distribution center roles to senior vice president of sales and merchandising for the central region, where she led multi-state operations and major retail partnerships. She later served as president of UNFI’s central region, overseeing conventional and natural retail accounts with full P&L responsibility. A strong advocate for employee engagement and inclusive culture, Tandy champions open communication and community impact. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering Technology from Southern Illinois University and enjoys reading and cooking in her free time.

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2026 Grocery Industry Icons and Innovators

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