Omnichannel thought leaders: RTIH presents its latest Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List

The latest edition of the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List has arrived, sponsored by 3D Cloud. Here are the people who made a splash in 2024 and are set for a barnstorming 2025.

RTIH has scoured the retail technology world to find the most influential figures for this comprehensive list of people and trends that shape the industry and help drive it forward.

We’re living in unprecedented times.

In a post-Covid world, we’re witnessing a seismic change in shopping habits. Retailers are taking innovative technologies like AR, AI, machine learning, and finding ways to use them to boost business efficiency and make customer experiences more exciting and dynamic.

Which is where the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List comes in, presented, we should stress, in no particular order.

Such disruption requires new ways of problem solving and thought leaders who can both evangelise and execute on the likes of digital transformation and omnichannel success.

We hope you enjoy reading through it and, as always, if you would like to give feedback or believe that there are some glaring omissions, please feel free to get in touch (a contact us form can be found at the end of this article).

Many thanks to 3D Cloud, which provides 3D product visualisation software trusted by top furniture and DIY retailers, for sponsoring the report.

You can download the top 100 in pdf format here or view the list below 👇👇👇👇👇

JUSTIN BRETON

LinkedIn bio: Innovative & inclusive marketing executive fostering meaningful engagement; Recognised as Ad Age 40 Under 40, Event Marketer Watchlist, Brand Innovators 40 Under 40, & Business Insider Rising Star of Brand Marketing.

CRISTINA RUTGERS-ASTOLFI

LinkedIn bio: Global Head of Analytics Ikea Customer Support | Digital Sustainable Transformation Leader | Customer Experience and Loyalty Expert | Speaker.

ANDY GAMBLE

LinkedIn bio: Global CIO | Investor | Non Executive Advisory Passionate about Technology, Retail, AI & Retail Media

PAULA BOBBETT

LinkedIn bio: Chief Digital Officer/Executive Director/Non Executive Director.

VINETA BAJAJ

LEONID GLADILIN

LinkedIn bio: Let's boost your LTV | B2C and B2B e-commerce | Customer-centric loyalty | Retention is King 👑.

ILANN HEPWORTH

LinkedIn bio: ShopAi, Enterprise AI Agents. Transforming Business Operations Through Natural Language Connecting Teams, Data & Systems via Intelligent Conversations.

CAROLINE VARGA

LinkedIn bio: Head of Uber Direct | on-demand delivery.

DOMINIQUE PIERRE LOCHER

LinkedIn bio: 1st generation digital pioneer, early stage investor and Food- and RetailTech entrepreneur.

GIOVANNI ZACCARIELLO

LinkedIn bio: SVP Global Visual Experience at Coach.

CAS PATON

LinkedIn bio: Founder and CEO of OnBuy.com - Where loyalty is rewarded.

GARY NEWBURY

LinkedIn bio: 👉🏻👉🏻👉🏻Rapid Performance Recovery 💥Supply Chain Transformer ⚡ 25+ Operational Turnarounds 🚀 Mid-Market Growth Escalator 📈 Speaker ♦ Radical Strategic Thinker ♦ Highly Focused ♦ Empowering ♦ Interim C Suite Leader.

SHISH SHRIDHAR

JAMES PEPPER

LinkedIn bio: CEO @ Vista Technology Support | Charity Sector Trustee.

JONATHAN DE MELLO

X bio: Retail & Retail Property expert. Founder & CEO of JDM Retail. NED. Top 25 Retail Influencer. Providing strategic consulting to retailers & property investors.

ANDREY GOLUB

LinkedIn bio: #Technology & #Strategy #Innovation. #FashionTech #DeepFashion #DesignAutomation #DigitalTransformation #MicroAutomation #DataDriven.

FRANK BEARD

X bio: Retail tech marketer | Speaker and writer | Once spent a month eating at gas stations and lived to tell the tale.

DEANN CAMPBELL

LinkedIn bio: Retail turnaround through optimising stores ☞ Global Speaker ☞ Rethink Retail Top Global Influencer ☞ RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencer.

LAWRENCE WILLIAMS

LinkedIn bio: Director of Retail Strategy | Sociologist | Solution Consultant | Author.

MICHELLE GRANT

X bio: Exploring the impact of digital transformation in retail and consumer goods. @Salesforce. Former Head of Retailing @Euromonitor. All opinions are my own.

MARSHALL KAY

LinkedIn bio: Strategic Advisor to retailers, global brands and investors. Speaker. Writer on Retail topics for Forbes. Named one of 2024's Top Retail Influencers by UK-based Retail Tech Innovation Hub and US-based RETHINK Retail.

NINA MIMICA

LinkedIn bio: Board Member and Chief Innovation Officer @ Studenac market // MBA in International Business.

ASIF AZIZ

LinkedIn bio: Retail Director EE/BT Group | NED | BT Group Clinical Advisory Board Member.

NIKKI BAIRD

LinkedIn bio: Retail industry and technology expert, focused on the future and its implications for today and tomorrow.

RICHARD NOON

LinkedIn bio: Product Manager - omnichannel at Footasylum.

SCOTT THOMPSON

LinkedIn bio: Editor and Founder at Retail Technology Innovation Hub and EdTech Innovation Hub. I'm hiring!.

VIV CRASKE

LinkedIn bio: Advisor for retail/FoodTech/online grocery scale ups | Author.

MATTHEW TAYLOR 

DR. CHRISTIAN BOCK

LinkedIn bio: Empowering Tomorrow's Retail Potential Today | reta Award Winner Best AI & Robotics Application 2023 (ALDI Nord).

STEVE COLLINGE

LinkedIn bio: Rethink Retail Top Retail Expert 2025, RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencer, Retail Commentator, International Speaker and Expert on the Home & Garden Industry. Group Managing Director | Sales & Marketing Director.

ELLA D’AMATO

LinkedIn bio: CEO | Executive Coach | NED | Trustee.

BRAD BOGOLEA

LinkedIn bio: Co-founder & CEO @ Simbe.

PAUL DO FORNO

Twitter bio: Managing Director / Eminence Lead Commerce Practice @DeloitteDigital. B2B B2C Commerce DigitalTransformation Expert. Alum: @uofwaterloo.

ANDREW BUSBY

DAVID GLICK

LinkedIn bio: SVP, Enterprise Business Services at Walmart.

CATALINA SALAZAR

LinkedIn bio: Global Lead of Retail Media at Wolt | Advertising | Ad Tech & Product Management | Business Consulting.

ANA PINTO

LinkedIn bio: CEO at Reckon.ai - We are Hiring!

KIERAN BOWDEN

LinkedIn bio: Customer Success Director at Retail Assist & Barron McCann Limited.

BECK BESECKER

LinkedIn bio: Founder & CEO at 3D Cloud.

DAVID POLINCHOCK

LinkedIn bio: Helping retailers/brands understand emerging tech impacting physical space, including AR/metaverse, payment tech | RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert | RTIH Retail Influencer | Writing book on 3rd place w/Sydney Polinchock.

MATT BRADLEY

LinkedIn bio: Director & Founder - Retail Technology Show.

MARTIN NEWMAN

LinkedIn bio: The Consumer Champion. Founder http://CustomerServiceAction.com Agent: http://KnightAyton.co.uk New book out now: http://bit.ly/PowerofCX

CHRISTINE RUSSO

GREG DEACON

MEGAN LUDLOW

LinkedIn bio: RTIH Top 100 Retail Tech Influencer (’22, ’23 & ‘24) | Product Manager - M&S App.

MIKE CADDEN

LinkedIn bio: Transformational retail focused IT Director/CIO/Programme Manager; RTIH Top 100 Retail Tech influencer.

TREVOR SUMNER

LinkedIn bio: Entrepreneur - Executive - Advisor - Angel - Top 100 Retail And Top 50 RetailTech Influencer.

LEE COOPERSMITH

LinkedIn bio: Director of Business Development (UK & IE) - Excited to Innovate in Last-Mile Retail at Cleveron | Passionate about Transforming the Retail Experience | Technology Enthusiast |

BRITTAIN LADD

LinkedIn bio: AI for Supply Chain and Logistics l Warehouse and Fulfillment Automation l Humanoid Robotics l Autonomous Technology for Transportation l Digital Commerce l Business Strategy l Innovation l Opinion Writer.

JENNIFER STEPHENS

LinkedIn bio: CMO / Co-founder / NED / Venture Builder / Advisor - US / UK / EMEA Integrating Frontier Technology to Reshape Consumer Business Strategies - Web3 / AI / D2C 3.0 / Hospitality / Modern Leadership.

SHARON YOURELL LAWLOR

LinkedIn bio: The Modern Shopper Strategist: Global Retail & Shopper Expert. Retail Author. Public Speaker. RETHINK Retail Top Expert (2023 & 2024). Decoding retail, tracking trends, and crafting impactful strategies.

YAEL KOCHMAN

ANDY BALDAUF

X bio: Top 100 Retail Tech Influencer | Done is better than perfect |Master #DigitalBusiness @fhhwz #digital #retail #ecommerce #marketing #innovation.

TONY D'ONOFRIO

LinkedIn bio: President @ Sensormatic | Recognized Global Top Retail Expert - 11,000+ Direct Contacts / 150,000+ Followers > Views my own.

ALICE RACKLEY

LinkedIn bio: Chief Executive Officer @ Polytag Limited | Connected packaging solutions and enabling circular economies through open standards.

RICHARD HAMMOND

LinkedIn bio: Uncrowd CEO & Founder | Expert in Experience Analytics.

BEN GIBBINS

LinkedIn bio: Connecting Retail Leaders With The Industry’s Best Technology & Transformation Talent | Retail Executive Search | Building The Retail Technology Leaders Hub - A Community For Retail Tech, Digital & Transformation Leaders.

STEVE LISTER

LinkedIn bio: Sustainability Consultant to Global Brands, Retailers & Partners - RETHINK Retail - Top Retail Expert Consultant 2024 - Top Retail Influencer 2023/24 - Retail Expert - RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencer 2023/24.

EMILIO (WASIM) MALIK

LinkedIn bio: Founder of Lazeez Tapas Mayfair /Co Founder Tahina - Autonomous. AI. Frictionless stores /Entrepreneur.

MAUREEN HINTON

X bio: Retail Analyst, Commentator, Consultant, Speaker. Member of KPMG/Ipsos Retail Think Tank, Top 100 Retail Influencer @ Retail Rethink & RTIH.

NATALIE BERG

LinkedIn bio: Retail Analyst | Author | Podcast Host #RetailDisrupted.

TOBY PICKARD

LinkedIn bio: Retail Futures Senior Partner @ IGD | Top Retail Expert from Rethink Retail and RTIH Top Influencer.

JO HICKSON

LinkedIn bio: Head of Innovation, H&M Group, Stockholm.

GLENN FAULKNER

LinkedIn bio: Automating Retail | Innovative Infrastructure & Hardware Product Manager | Driving Growth Through Bespoke Solutions | Cross-Functional Collaboration & Strategic Partnerships.

KATE HARDCASTLE

LinkedIn bio: Global Leader in Consumer Engagement “Speaks fluent customer” Business Advisor Keynote Speaker Broadcaster EMEA USA PAN-ASIA Author - The Science of Shopping - pre order now Investor Passionate philanthropist.

CELIA VAN WICKEL

LinkedIn bio: 🌟Expert in eCommerce, Retail, CPG, and Marketing activation, insights, and trends 🌟Creative and curious thought leader & storyteller 🌟Thoughts expressed are my own.

MARTIN SCHOFIELD

LinkedIn bio: CEO at Retail247.

BEN SILLITOE

LinkedIn bio: Editor, journalist, and content creator available for contract and freelance work, and founder/editor of Green Retail World.

NADINE NEATROUR

LinkedIn bio: Customer Centric Leader. Helping brands see through a customer lens to thrive. CMO. CCO. Advisory. Fractional. Consulting. NED.

GEOFFREY BARRACLOUGH

X bio: Business of Payments. New blog looking at how Paytech makes money. Sign up for the newsletter.

OLIVER BANKS

LinkedIn bio: I help retailers drive operating model transformation and change // Consultant & Advisor // Author: Driving Retail Transformation // Podcast: The Retail Transformation Show // Keynote Speaker.

GREGG LONDON

LinkedIn bio: U.P.C. Data for Regulations, Compliance, and GS1 2D Initiatives - Supply Chain Consultant - Grocery Pragmatist - Magician – Rabbi.

ALEX BAKER

LinkedIn bio: Co-creating the new retail ecosystem.

SIMEON SIEGEL

LinkedIn bio: Managing Director, Senior Analyst, Board Member.

OSKAR JAKOBSSON

LinkedIn bio: Director Customer Solution @ICA - Senior retail manager. RTIH - Top 100 Retail tech influencer. Rethink Retail - Global Retail Leader. Retail tech expert and speaker.

CATHY MCCABE

LinkedIn bio: CEO & Co-Founder - Leading Global Retail Clienteling Solution | Empowering Associates with Omnichannel Retail | Build Your Business By Growing Customer Engagement | Understand Interactions | Data-Driven Retail Marketing.

NEIL KUSCHEL

LinkedIn: I like lockers and e-commerce technology. CEO UK @ InPost UK | Executive Advisory, E-Commerce.

HARMONY MURPHY

LinkedIn bio: Founder, Senior Commercial Head @ Google | ex General Manager, ads @eBay | Certified Coach (AFC 2021), Author.

CAROLE KINGSBURY

LinkedIn bio: CIO | Technology Director | People-focussed Change and Digital Transformation Leader.

RICK WATSON

LinkedIn bio: eCommerce Strategy Consultant | Strategic eCommerce Consulting to Optimize Your Results | ECommerce SaaS Positioning and Go-to-Market Strategy | Organizational Change Management | E-Commerce Expert Witness.

CARL BOUTET

LinkedIn bio: Retail Prescriptor 🎯 Marketing Educator 🛍️ Global Strategist 🌏 Board Member & Advisor 📈

GONEN GERSHUNI

Linkedin bio: Unmanned Stores | Auto Pick & Pack | 24/7 Omnichannel | 100% Loss Prevention ☑️ Top Retail Expert @RETHINK Retail.

ART SEBASTIAN

LinkedIn bio: NexChapter I Entrepreneur I Technology Advisor I Omni-Channel Marketing I Digital Transformation I Retail Media Networks I Go-to-Market Strategy.

JOHN-PIERRE KAMEL

LinkedIn bio: Rethink Retail Top Retail Expert 2024 & 2025 | Retail, Omni-Channel, RFID Technology Executive | RTIH Top 100 Retail Global Technology Influencer 2024.

CHRIS IGWE

SUMEET GOENKA

LinkedIn bio: 🚀 Founder & CEO | YALLO Group – Tech Strategy & Talent for Retail, BFSI, Healthcare & More | Chief Architect | Ex-Richemont, Microsoft, Deloitte, Oracle.

KARRIE HELM

LinkedIn bio: Sr. Director of Stores | Operations Leader | Passion for People First Leadership.

SIMON SHANKSTER

LinkedIn bio: Director of Sales EMEA Focal Systems | Retail Technology, Brand Experience & Store Environments | Achieving Results and Leading High Performing Teams.

MICHELLE KEARNS

MARILYN REPP

LinkedIn bio: Retail Innovation Ambassador | Community Building.

STEVE DRESSER

LinkedIn bio: CEO @grocery_insight. Store insight, process, availability & better execution. Retail influencer. "The man supermarket CEO's turn to" (BBC). SEN Tribunal vet.

HARRY RIDLEY

LinkedIn bio: Head of Technology at Levy UK + Ireland.

PATRYK POWIERŻA

LinkedIn bio: Chief Growth Officer at x-kom | Forbes 30u30 | Tech Newsletter Author.

JIM HERBERT

LinkedIn bio: CEO at Patchworks.

TOBIAS CATERER

LinkedIn bio: Open Innovation Lead at M&S.

MIKE VAUGHN

LinkedIn bio: Retail Consultant and Trusted Advisor | Retail Strategy | Transformation | Technology and Process Consulting.

RON THURSTON

LinkedIn bio: Best Selling Author, Keynote Speaker, Podcast Host, and Senior Advisor.

MELISSA MOORE

LinkedIn bio: The Retail Advisor | The Retail Tea Break Podcast Host🎙| Retail & Sales Lecturer | RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert🎉|

ELAINE PARR

OLYVIA MUNRO

LinkedIn bio: A 23-year-old building real-time product tracking for fashion retailers

HOW DO WE IDENTIFY THE TOP 100?

We use a variety of sources to select our top 100, including feedback from industry observers, research within our own networks, direct or third-party nominations via our website, and social media tools.

In addition to social presence, we also take into account award winners and judges, event speakers, books published, media appearances, and people building innovative companies, solutions etc in the retail space.