That's a wrap! Dr. Martens veteran and Head of E-commerce Charlotte Kent ends run at firm

Charlotte Kent has announced her departure from Dr. Martens, where she spent just over eight years, most recently serving as Head of E-commerce - EMEA.

In a LinkedIn post, she said: "And that’s a wrap!!! It’s officially time to hang up my many…. many pairs of Dr. Martens boots. It’s been a privilege to work at a brand that’s gone through such an adventure in that time. We started with a small scrappy e-commerce team attempting to run some websites… (often running out of stock 😁)... eventually ending up with a team of up to 50 in its peak across 10 markets."

She added: "A few lessons to take to the next chapter include: Listen, learn, lead - in that order...Theres always fun to be had… somewhere along the way; And if you’re not uncomfortable, you’re not growing…"

"Wanted to share a huge big thank you to everyone I've worked alongside and learnt from in that time (both at DM's and externally). I’m not sure what the future holds just yet ....but with digital changing every day… no doubt there’s plenty to keep me entertained."

Amperity

Last year, Amperity, an AI powered customer data cloud specialist, reported that Dr. Martens had selected its platform to support its global data and marketing operations strategy.

"We're not just selling iconic boots, shoes, and sandals; we're elevating retail experiences that exceed expectations," said Lynn Ritson, Global Digital Director at Dr. Martens. "Selecting Amperity demonstrates our commitment to enhancing customer engagement with AI powered personalisation. Initial results show we can better serve our customers across all touchpoints while driving business growth."

Through this tie up, Dr. Martens is leveraging Amperity's AI powered identity resolution and insights platform to scale its data maturity across key global markets while ensuring privacy compliance.

"Dr. Martens' partnership with Amperity marks a significant milestone in their digital transformation journey," said Matthew Biboud-Lubeck, General Manager, EMEA at Amperity.

"In today's evolving digital landscape, their proactive approach to enhancing customer engagement through our AI powered customer data cloud will enable personalised experiences across all touchpoints while maintaining robust privacy compliance. This collaboration exemplifies how leading brands are using AI driven solutions to build deeper customer relationships and drive sustainable growth."

2026 RTIH Innovation Awards

AI will be a key focus area at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards.

The awards are now open for entries and celebrate global retail technology innovation in a fast moving omnichannel world.

Our winners will be revealed at the 2026 RTIH Innovation Awards Ceremony, taking place at The HAC in Central London on Wednesday, 4th November.

Check out our 2025 winners here.

Our 2025 hall of fame entrants were revealed during a sold out event which took place at The HAC on 16th October and consisted of a drinks reception, three course meal, and awards ceremony presided over by award winning comedian, actress and writer Tiff Stevenson.

In his welcome speech, Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH, said: “This is the awards’ fifth year as a physical event. We started off with just 30 people at the South Place Hotel not far from here, then moved to London Bridge Hotel, then The Barbican, and last year RIBA’s HQ in the West End.”

“But I’m conscious of the fact that, to quote the legend that is Taylor Swift, You’re only as hot as your last hit, baby. So, this year we’ve moved to our biggest venue yet, and also pulled in our largest number of entries to date and broken attendance records.”

He added: “This year’s submissions have without doubt been our best yet. To quote one of the judges: The examples of innovative developments across both traditional and digital retail spaces were truly remarkable.”

Congratulations to our winners, and a big thank you to our sponsors, judging panel, the legend that is Tiff Stevenson, and all those who attended our 2025 gathering.