NEW YORK — The NRF Foundation has named seven executives to its 2027 list of people helping shape the future of retail, recognizing leaders whose roles span stores, technology, marketing, creative strategy and international growth.
The honorees on The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future 2027 will be recognized at the annual NRF Foundation Honors in New York City on Jan. 10.
This year’s honorees are Emilie Arel, president of Mitchell & Ness; Amiee Bayer-Thomas, chief retail officer at Ulta Beauty; Kim Gallagher, executive director of marketing and customer success at Nuuly; John C Jay, president of global creative at Fast Retailing; Steve Peters, senior vice president and head of stores and operations at Old Navy; Sandeep Seth, chief growth officer and president of Tapestry International at Tapestry; and Fiona Tan, chief technology officer at Wayfair.
“The 2027 honorees on The List of People Shaping Retail’s Future exemplify the talent and vision moving retail forward,” said Steve Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries and chairman of the NRF Foundation Board of Directors. “Their leadership pairs bold innovation with ingenuity, shaping what the future of retail will look like.”
The mix of executives reflects the increasingly broad range of disciplines shaping the industry. The honorees hold leadership positions encompassing brick-and-mortar operations, e-commerce, technology, customer engagement, branding and global expansion at companies ranging from specialty and apparel retailers to digital businesses.
The NRF Foundation said the award is designed to recognize the range of companies, roles and products that are important to the retail industry and its customers. Previous recipients have included executives from established brands as well as emerging companies.
“Retail offers countless opportunities to build a meaningful and rewarding career, and the honorees this year exemplify that potential,” said Adam Lukoskie, NRF senior vice president and NRF Foundation executive director. “Their leadership, innovation and dedication are shaping and evolving the industry while paving the way for the next generation of trailblazers.”
The annual Honors event also supports the NRF Foundation’s workforce development and education initiatives. The organization provides more than $1 million annually in retail scholarships and grants and says its training programs engage more than 100,000 people and over 2,000 educational and workforce partners.
More than 350 retailers and industry partners support the foundation’s efforts to develop talent for jobs throughout the retail industry, including positions in stores, supply chain facilities and corporate offices.
The NRF Foundation is the nonprofit arm of the National Retail Federation and focuses on providing education, training and career opportunities within the retail industry.
