Among other topics, Kyle discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Kyle Nel’s Biography
Kyle Nel is the Executive Director of Lowe’s Innovation Labs, part of Lowe’s Companies, Inc., a $60 billion home improvement company. Kyle leads a team that is responsible for driving the company’s innovation vision, strategy, and growth.
Prior to founding the Innovation Labs, Kyle held positions in market research with Lowe’s and the Walmart Global Insights Group.
Kyle is a member of the XPRIZE Foundation Innovation Board and was recognized on the 2015 Advertising Age “40 under 40” list.
Kyle earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Management from Brigham Young University-Idaho and an MBA from the AC Nielsen Center for Marketing Research at the University of Wisconsin.
I recently caught up with Kyle in his office in Seattle, WA. Our conversation covered World Class IT Principle One, People, as Kyle discussed how he recruits for innovation; and Principle Five, External Partnerships, as Kyle described the importance of Lowe’s uncommon partnerships with organizations like Google and Made In Space. We also discussed Lowe’s Innovation Labs’ narrative-driven innovation model, transformative products that are used in Lowe’s stores that began in the Innovation Labs, and a variety of other topics.
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Among other topics, Angela discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
I recently caught up with Angela over the phone from her office in Plano, TX. Our conversation covered World Class IT Principle Four, IT & Business Partnerships, as Angela described the importance of CIOs understanding, supporting, and driving the interdependencies that exist in complex, modern enterprises. Angela also shared how CIOs need to adopt the mindset of CEOs, how she prepared for her First 100 Days at Rent-A-Center, her experience as a board-level CIO, and her views on a variety of other topics.
Among other topics, Yasir discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Yasir Anwar’s Biography
Yasir is Senior Vice President, Head of Digital Technology at Macy’s, Inc., one of the nation’s premier omnichannel retailers, with fiscal 2015 sales of $27.1 billion. As the The company currently operates about 728 stores in 49 of the top 50 US markets under the names of Macy’s, Macy’s Backstage, Bloomingdale’s, Bloomingdale’s Outlet and Bluemercury, as well as the macys.com, bloomingdales.com and bluemercury.com websites. Yasir is also the founder of Macy’s Labs, which Yasir describes as a “crucible for idea generation, feasibility analysis and experimentation.” Prior to Macy’s Yasir served as the Director of Engineering with WalMartlabs. I recently caught up with Yasir in his office in San Francisco, and our conversation covered World Class iT Principle 1, People, as we discussed attracting top talent in the Bay Area; Principle 2: Infrastructure, as we discussed building a technology architecture of domain services focused on outcome; and Principle 3, Project and Portfolio Management, as we discussed the creation of the ‘omni customer’ experience and shaping products based on customer feedback. We also covered how a long-standing brand like Macy’s can be leveraged in competition with digital native organizations, among a variety of other topics.
Among other topics, Roger discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Roger Pilc’s Biography
Roger is the Chief Innovation Officer of Pitney Bowes, a $4 billion e-commerce solutions provider. In that role, Roger is responsible for spearheading the organization’s innovation efforts to help its customers succeed in an increasingly complex digital and physical world. Prior to Pitney Bowes, Roger worked for CA Technologies where he held leadership roles as a Senior Vice President and General Manager. He also held positions as a management consultant at McKinsey & Company and Booz Allen Hamilton.
Roger received a bachelor’s degree in Operations Research, Economics, & Government from Cornell University, a master’s degree in Industrial Engineering from Stanford University, and an MBA from Harvard Business School.
Among other topics, Mike discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Mike McNamara’s Biography Mike McNamara is the Chief Information Officer at Target, a well-known retail business with over $72 billion in revenue. As CIO, Mike is responsible for information technology operations throughout the retail company’s stores, distribution centers, headquarters locations and international facilities. Prior to Target, Mike worked at Tesco, serving as Chief Information Officer, Operations Development Director, UK IT Director, and CTO of tesco.com during his over 16 years with the company. Mike received his Bachelor of Engineering degree in Civil Engineering from University College Dublin.
Among other topics, Marc discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Marc Lore’s Biography
Marc Lore is the Founder and CEO of Jet, the online marketplace that will take advantage of the economics of online shopping to create a new business model promising the lowest prices on the Internet. The company officially launches the day we are broadcasting, July 13, 2015. The company has raised over $220 million in funding.
Prior to Jet, Marc was the Co-founder and CEO of Quidsi, the parent company of e-commerce websites Diapers.com, Soap.com, Wag.com and more. The company was founded in 2005 and sold to Amazon in 2011 for $550 million. Marc was also the Co-founder and CEO of The Pit, Inc., an internet market-making collectible company constructed as an alternative to eBay, which was sold to the Topps Company in 2001.
Marc has received a wide array of industry accolades, including E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year regional winner and Fortune’s “smartest people in technology;” The Sunday Times Magazine of London named him one of Britain’s “new high-tech entrepreneurs and whiz kids.” Prior to being a serial entrepreneur, Marc held various investment banking positions, including Executive Vice President of Sanwa International Bank in London, where he was head of the bank’s Risk Management Division and Vice President of Emerging Markets Risk Management at Credit Suisse First Boston.
Marc received his BA in Business Management and Economics from Bucknell University.
Among other topics, Chris discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Christopher Hjelm’s Biography
Christopher Hjelm is currently Senior Vice President, Chief Information Officer for The Kroger Co. Chris leads the technology strategy, and is responsible for all aspects of engineering, site architecture, operations, and services. Before joining Kroger in 2005, Chris was Chief Information Officer at Cendant’s Travel Distribution Services and Senior VP for Technology at eBay.
Chris has more than 20 years of technology leadership experience at high-growth Internet companies as well as Fortune 500 firms, having served at Orbitz, Cendant Corp., eBay, and Federal Express. He has been a Director of Rehabcare Group Inc. since July 2007 and a Director of Kindred Healthcare Inc. since June 2011. He serves as a Member of CIO Advisory Board of newScale LLC, which designs, manufactures and distributes networking equipments, and as a Member of Advisory Board at Channel Velocity, Inc.
Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems from the Colorado State University and an Honorary PhD in Computer Science from Colorado Technical University.
Among other topics, Ed discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Ed Robben’s Biography
Ed is the SVP and CIO at Fossil Group, a global retailer specializing in fashion and accessory products, primarily watches. Among other responsibilities, Ed oversees the technology that supports Fossil’s business operations and develops future technology strategies for the organization, while reporting directly to Fossil’s CEO. He has held the post of CIO since joining the company in 2012.
Prior to joining Fossil, Ed served as the SVP, CIO, and Executive Board Member at J.C. Penney. He also previously served at BNSF and the Feld Group, which was acquired by EDS where he then implemented technology solutions for the NMCI (the largest intranet in the world).
Ed graduated from Oklahoma State University with a Bachelor’s of Science in Electrical Engineering.
Among other topics, Eric discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Eric Singleton’s Biography
Eric Singleton is the Chief Information Officer of Chico’s Inc., the international women’s retailer with a portfolio of four brands, Chico’s, Boston Proper, Soma Intimates, and White House | Black Market. Eric is considered a leader in the field of omni-channel retailing, a topic we cover in some depth in this interview. Among other responsibilities, Eric oversees information technology within the enterprise, including but not limited to the desktop, IT and information security, and information delivery.
Prior to his tenure at Chico’s, Eric served as the Chief Information Officer for Tommy Hilfiger Corporation where he held worldwide responsibility for the company’s Information Technology division, and as Senior Vice President of Technologies for AOL, Inc., the multinational American mass media corporation. Among many key responsibilities at AOL, Eric led software engineering where he architected and implemented a unified platform for the discovery, trial, purchase and management of AOL’s Paid Services offerings, while also overseeing AOL’s technology roadmap.
Eric holds a Bachelor’s Degree in computer science and business from the University of Central Florida and is a graduate of the Executive Management Marketing Program at the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business.
Among other topics, Matt discusses the following issues with Metis Strategy:
Matt Carey’s Biography:
Matt is the Global EVP and CIO of The Home Depot, the $79 billion retailer providing home improvement and construction products and services. Among other responsibilities, Matt is responsible for all aspects of the information technology infrastructure including communication networks and retail systems across the company’s stores and support centers. In addition to his role at The Home Depot, Matt serves as a member of the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee at Geeknet.
Before his tenure at The Home Depot, Matt served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer at eBay, the American multinational ecommerce company. Among many key responsibilities, Matt was responsible for product development, site operations, electronic security and product planning for eBay Marketplaces.
Prior to joining eBay in 2006, Matt served as the Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer of Walmart for 20 years.
Along with his current board position at the Geeknet, Matt has served as a member of the Audit Committee at TransUnion.
Matt holds an Associate’s Degree in Information Systems from Oklahoma State University.
