At COO (Boardroom Media) we track over 1,000,000 startups and over 5,000,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top United States based COO’ operating in the Retail Technology space. If you think a COO’ is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on [email protected].
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Candace Denton
COO of Plug and Play Brand & Retail
Candace connects larger corporations with strategic investment, business development, licensing, and acquisition opportunities within Plug and Play’s startup community by way of individual introductions (deal review sessions) and events. Candace also develops acceleration programs that provide funding, corporate, and advisory resources to startups of strategic interest to a corporation.
Follow Candace Denton:
About ICONIQ Capital, Plug and Play Brand & Retail: Solving the biggest problems top brands, retailers, and industry players face today.
Jeffrey Kolovson
Co-Founder and COO of Faire
Jeffrey Kolovson is the co-founder and COO of Faire.
Follow Jeffrey Kolovson:
About Faire: Faire is a company that helps retailers find and buy wholesale merchandise for their stores.
Doug Barry
Co-Founder, COO and CFO of PORTL Hologram
Follow Doug Barry:
About MSMCi, PopJax, PORTL Hologram: PORTL Hologram offers at-home hologram machines.
Jessica Murphy
Co-Founder & COO of True Fit
Co-Founder | VP Operations at True Fit
Follow Jessica Murphy:
About True Fit: True Fit is a consumer experience platform leveraged by apparel and footwear retailers to decode fit and size and connect shoppers with only what they love. It has organized and connected the broadest footwear, apparel and shopper data in the world to provide best in class fit recommendations covering the industry’s brands and styles, driving shopper confidence and loyalty.
Ben Conway
COO/Co-Founder of VNTANA
Follow Ben Conway:
About VNTANA: Democratizing 3D for the world through the only automated 3D Collaboration Platform.
Dave Goldberg
COO and Founder of Short Story
Dave Goldberg is the COO and Founder of Short Story.
Follow Dave Goldberg:
About Short Story: Short Story is the first online retailer and top rated personal styling service focused exclusively on petite women’s sizing.
Meredith Han
COO of SoundCommerce
Meredith Han leads products and services at SoundCommerce. Meredith is a veteran technology product and direct-to-consumer commerce executive with tenure at Amazon.com where she launched the health & personal care business; Kosmix, acquired by Walmart to become Walmart Labs; and Brooks Running, a Berkshire Hathaway company where she led direct-to-consumer efforts as Head of Ecommerce for nine years. Meredith enjoys exploring the outdoors with her husband, and keeping her three kids and the trains running on time.
Follow Meredith Han:
About Flyhomes, SoundCommerce: SoundCommerce is a data platform that drives profitable growth, customer experience, and CLV for brands and retailers.
Mark Geller
COO & Co-Founder of Happy Returns
Entrepreneur and executive with strong background in product/development, strategy, and marketing. Cofounder and COO of Happy Returns, an e-commerce service, technology, & logistics provider based in Los Angeles. Previously, led the mobile effort at NordstromRack.com | HauteLook, the online off-price division of Nordstrom, including creating and leading HauteLook’s Return to Rack program. Prior to HauteLook, worked in PM roles at Google, United Online, and several startups.
Follow Mark Geller:
About Happy Returns, Launchpad LA: Happy Returns provides comprehensive return solutions for leading online and omni-channel retailers and their customers.
Alain Miguel
Chief Operating Officer of Modalyst
Alain Miguel created a polo collection while an undergrad at Yale. The polos sold well locally, but dissolved due to a newfound love for financial services at JP Morgan. However, the dark side of Wall Street didn’t suit him well. After four years in finance, he ditched the industry in pursuit of an MBA at MIT Sloan. As every successful startup needs a drop-out, Alain has since left MIT to follow his entrepreneurial dreams at Modalyst.
Follow Alain Miguel:
About Modalyst: Modalyst is a dropshipping platform for e-commerce businesses.
David Kleyman
Co-Founder, COO of Wooter
Founder at Wooter
Follow David Kleyman:
About Wooter: Sports technology company revolutionizing the sportswear industry and the way leagues + teams are run.
Gavin Weigh
Co-Founder & COO of Revieve
Follow Gavin Weigh:
About LandInChicago, Revieve, ULLAC: Market-leading beauty customer-experience personalization solution for beauty brands and retailers
Michael Suswal
Co-founder & COO of Standard Cognition
Michael Suswal is the Co-Founder & COO of Standard Cognition.
Follow Michael Suswal:
About Standard Cognition: Standard Cognition provides an autonomous checkout tool that can be installed into retailers’ existing stores.
Michael O’Sullivan
President and Chief Operating Officer of Ross Stores
Follow Michael O’Sullivan:
About Ross Stores: Ross Stores, Inc. is an off-price apparel and home fashion chain in the United States.
John Wise
Chief Operating Officer of LovePop
John Wise is the founder of LovePop Cards.
Follow John Wise:
About LovePop: LovePop creates a precious handmade keepsake that unfolds like a miniature surprise.
Claire Chen
Founder and COO of Clobotics
Follow Claire Chen:
About Clobotics: Clobotics provides intelligent computer vision solutions for the retail and wind power sectors.
Morgan Linton
Co-founder & COO of Bold Metrics
Co-founder at Bold Metrics.
Follow Morgan Linton:
About Bold Metrics, MorganLinton.com: Building a sustainable future by reducing product returns and informing better design practices
Nisha Shoukath
COO & Co-Founder of People10 Technologies
Nisha Shoukath is Co-Founder of Skyl.ai & People10
Follow Nisha Shoukath:
About People10 Technologies, Skyl.ai: People10 Technologies Inc. provide Software Services like., Agile and Lean Product development, QA , Application management & many more.
Jan-Hein Pullens
Co-Founder and COO of roOomy
Jan-Hein Pullens is the Advisor To The Board at Loft.
Follow Jan-Hein Pullens:
About roOomy: roOomy’s patented 3D/AR/VR technology brings your listing, home and décor to life with fast, scalable 3D modeling and rendering services.
Scott Langmack
COO of KUKUN
Tech startup CEO and enterprise CMO with experience in B2C and B2B businesses ranging from startups to growth companies to Fortune 50 global leaders. Expertise in leading high-performance teams who build powerful global products and brands. Early career executive experience with Microsoft, Pepsi-Cola and others. Two-time entrepreneur/founder. One success/successful exit. One miss. Avid home designer and builder.
Follow Scott Langmack:
About ConnectUp Inc., KUKUN: Kukun is an originator of property data and predictive analytics delivering superior valuations and forecasts
Donald Oelke
Co-founder & COO of Clerk
Follow Donald Oelke:
About Clerk: Clerk is building the digital infrastructure to enable more transparent, efficient, and profitable in-store marketing & merchandising.
Michael Avon
Chief Operating Officer of Clutch
Michael Avon is the COO at Clutch,a customer marketing platform for business-to-consumer brands.
Follow Michael Avon:
About Clutch: Clutch serves as a customer marketing platform for business-to-consumer brands.
Jacob Sky Levin
Founder & COO of SparkPlug
Follow Jacob Sky Levin:
About SparkPlug: SaaS, Mobile App, Sales Gamification, B&M Retail
Rotimi Akinyemiju
COO of Eleven James
Rotimi Akinyemiju serves as the Chief Operating Officer at BaubleBar. In this role, he is responsible for human resources, facilities, customer experience, global supply-chain management, including international and domestic logistics, packaging supplies, and Information Technology. He is also a Board Adviser at Topshelf. Before joining Baublebar, Rotimi was the Chief Operating Officer at Moda Operandi, where he held overall responsibility for global supply chain, warehousing, logistics, HR, facilities, and accounting functions. Previously, Dr. Akinyemiju was a Head of the US Operations at Net-A-Porter.Com, the UK based online luxury retailer, where he worked from October 2005 to January 2012. Prior to this, Dr. Akinyemiju was a Distribution Manager with Net-A-Porter.Com at their London Distribution Center, between 2005 and 2007. He has been in the luxury industry for over a decade and has a complete understanding of the online luxury market. Dr. Akinyemiju also specializes in global supply chain and logistics issues associated with global ecommerce space. He previously worked with Sheffield Insulations as a Logistics Manager and prior to that worked with Tibbett & Britten as a Warehouse Operations Controller in the United Kingdom. Dr. Akinyemiju holds a Bachelors degree in Management of Logistics from Anglia Ruskin University, UK, a Masters degree in Purchasing and Supply-Chain Management from London Metropolitan Business School, and a Doctorate in Business Administration from Argosy University Business School, Chicago.
Follow Rotimi Akinyemiju:
About Eleven James: Eleven James is a lifestyle brand that is pioneering the luxury experience for the digital age.
John McLaughlin
COO of Critical Mass
As Chief Operations Officer, John is charged with overseeing the efficiency of the Agency’s process and quality of its work product. Since joining Critical Mass in 1999, he has progressed through several roles in the organization. Through his experience leading individual projects, large-scale client teams and entire offices, John has developed a great understanding of the challenges facing complex organizations and enjoys identifying and capitalizing on opportunities for improvement. With a Master’s Degree in Integrated Marketing from Northwestern University, John believes in the power of data and analytics to drive business and organizational decisions. He also holds a degree in journalism with a concentration in advertising and business administration from Ohio University. His free time is occupied by baseball, cheesy science fiction novels and chronicling the adventures of his 2-year-old son.
Follow John McLaughlin:
About Critical Mass: Critical Mass is a digital experience design agency with a relentless focus on the customer.
Mike Snow
COO/Founder of Seek
Follow Mike Snow:
About Seek: B2B SAAS bringing web-based AR to the masses
Tal Golan
Co-founder and COO of Outernets
Insightful, creative, good at reading people, analytic thinking and problems solving.
Follow Tal Golan:
About Outernets: Redefining Physical Consumer Engagement, creating meaningful, measurable, data-driven, and personalized interactions with consumers OFFLINE.
Jason Luna
COO of Rapid RMS
Follow Jason Luna:
About 38 Degree Draft, Rapid RMS: The first point-of-sale and inventory management system that runs on Apple iPads and integrates with gasoline pumps.
Catherine Jirak
COO & Principal of QueBIT
Catherine is the Chief Operating Officer for the regional consulting offices, responsible for all of the company’s operations, including sales, service, and support. Catherine is co-partner of QueBIT Consulting and has been in the Enterprise Planning sector since 1996. She also plays a key role in the development of all partner relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace. Her career includes 10 years of enterprise planning consulting and 7 years of corporate experience, including Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis at CPC International and Manager at KPMG Peat Marwick. Catherine has 20 years of business and technical experience focused on financial systems, and she was the principal of her own accounting service and software firm prior to QueBIT. Catherine holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Scranton and is a member of the AICPA. She is also an avid golfer, skier, and a member of PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America).
Follow Catherine Jirak:
About QueBIT: QueBIT is dedicated to helping organizations to leverage their data to make more intelligent decisions.
Catherine Jirak
COO & Principal of QueBIT
Catherine is the Chief Operating Officer for the regional consulting offices, responsible for all of the company’s operations, including sales, service, and support. Catherine is co-partner of QueBIT Consulting and has been in the Enterprise Planning sector since 1996. She also plays a key role in the development of all partner relationships, ensuring flexibility in response to an increasingly demanding marketplace. Her career includes 10 years of enterprise planning consulting and 7 years of corporate experience, including Manager of Financial Planning and Analysis at CPC International and Manager at KPMG Peat Marwick. Catherine has 20 years of business and technical experience focused on financial systems, and she was the principal of her own accounting service and software firm prior to QueBIT. Catherine holds a BS in Accounting from the University of Scranton and is a member of the AICPA. She is also an avid golfer, skier, and a member of PSIA (Professional Ski Instructors of America).
Follow Catherine Jirak:
About QueBIT: QueBIT is dedicated to helping organizations to leverage their data to make more intelligent decisions.
Morgan Stempf
Chief Operating Officer of Corus
Morgan Stempf has been serving as Chief Operating Officer at Corus since 2013.
Follow Morgan Stempf:
About Corus: Corus is bridging the gap between DIY market research and full-service custom research.
Jeff Streader
Managing Director of Go Global Retail, Former Global COO Billabong, Former CEO of Kellwood Company of Luxlock
Follow Jeff Streader:
About : Connected commerce meets a concierge culture. Luxlock merges digital and physical worlds to create legendary #IRL shopping experiences
Dave Eckley
COO of TradeGlobal
Follow Dave Eckley:
About TradeGlobal: Global eCommerce solutions: Frontend Integration, Omnichannel-Fulfillment and -IT-solutions, Digital Marketing, global shipping software
Michael Doherty
Chief Operating Officer of InStream Media, Inc.
Follow Michael Doherty:
About InStream Media, Inc.: inStream transforms everyday transactions into powerful marketing opportunities with real-time, targeted offer and messaging programs.
Isaiah Tornero
COO of BNB Shield
COO at BNB Shield.
Follow Isaiah Tornero:
About BNB Shield: BNB Shield finds, reports on and challenges illegal and contract-breaking short-term rentals.
Ingvild Karine Sandmo
COO of Proxloop
Follow Ingvild Karine Sandmo:
About Proxloop: Empowering retailers to create authentic customer relationships in-store.
Gary Wlassak
EVP of Operations & COO of EZER Inc.
Follow Gary Wlassak:
About EZER Inc.: EZER Delivery is a same-day freight matching marketplace that automates local delivery.
Jennifer Chang
COO of Trendalytics Innovation Labs
Jen Chang serves as a product manager at Trendalytics Innovation Labs. Most recently, Jen served as VP of merchandise planning at Trinity Limited and a manager at Saks Fifth Avenue. Prior to these, she was part of Bloomingdales as a planner and of Abercombie as an associate merchant. Jen holds a degree in digital media design from the University of Pennsylvania.
Follow Jennifer Chang:
About Trendalytics Innovation Labs: Trendalytics Innovation Labs is a product intelligence engine that surfaces what consumers want today and tomorrow.
Brent Hoffmann
COO / Co-founder of Bitsie
Follow Brent Hoffmann:
About Bitsie: Bitsie’s mission is to help organizations understand and leverage Bitcoin to foster commerce, increase profits, and reach new markets.
Kevin Futch
COO of ShadowBid
Follow Kevin Futch:
About ShadowBid: ShadowBid is a revolutionary new online shopping platform that is incorporating financial trading tools.
Lisette Rice
Co-Founder/COO of Freeing Returns
Follow Lisette Rice:
About Freeing Returns: Freeing Returns is a mobile phone app that offers users a unique way to return bought items to stores.
Jody Slone
COO of Beverage Media Group
Follow Jody Slone:
About Beverage Media Group: Trade publication with online product search and ordering for the alcoholic beverage industry.
Maria Wright
COO of Shopping Quizzes
Follow Maria Wright:
About Shopping Quizzes: Shopping Quizzes helps website customers decide what to buy and dramatically boosts ecommerce conversion rates for online retailers.
Jason Kohrig
COO of Skosay
Follow Jason Kohrig:
About Skosay: Skosay is an online product discovery site that connects consumers to targeted offers from consumer packaged goods brands.