Simbe expands leadership team

Simbe, a provider of store intelligence solutions through proprietary computer vision and AI, has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of several key executives.

The company has undergone significant growth in the past year, marked most recently by expanded retail partnerships and the introduction of differentiated product capabilities, according to a news release. With the strategic addition of six new hires in the first quarter of 2024, Simbe says it is further positioned to expand its global footprint and meet rising demand for retail technology.

The six new hires include, according to the release:

• Ben Bond, vice president of strategy and business development — Bond is a strategist in the retail sector, known for guiding global retailers through complex transformation journeys. During his tenure at top consultancies, including Kearney and Accenture, Bond specialized in helping clients advance traditional retail models with digital capabilities. At Simbe, he will hone the company's strategic direction while driving the adoption of artificial intellgience and robotics in retail, working directly with retail CEOs and board-level executives to meet rising interest.
• Brian Hill, senior director of deployment and fleet operations — Hill, with over 25 years of experience in the electronics manufacturing industry, specializes in robotics, smart grid and networking equipment. He has expertise in scaling worldwide operations to serve global organizations, surpassing customer service-level agreements and revenue targets, and spearheading continuous process improvement initiatives for both large public companies and small start-ups. He will drive the management, optimization and scaling of Simbe’s robot deployment and fleet maintenance operations.
• Jill O'Connor as vice president of sales — O'Connor is a sales strategist and industry leader in the CPG and retail sector. She has a track record of success in creating new product categories and leading high-performing teams for renowned companies like Daily Harvest, where she served as the director of grocery, and General Mills, where she assumed multiple roles over a 20-year career across business planning, category management, and sales. Collaborating closely with Simbe’s senior vice president of sales, O'Connor will leverage her expertise to drive revenue growth, forge strategic partnerships and enhance the company’s market presence. 
• Lynn Brook as senior director of product marketing — Brook brings a decade and a half of product marketing experience at retail technology companies. With leadership roles spanning startups to billion-dollar companies, she is a leader in driving success through innovative marketing strategies. Brook will spearhead Simbe’s product marketing efforts, leveraging her extensive industry knowledge to highlight Simbe's unique core capabilities and enhance its market position.
• Mary Piercy as vice president of customer success — Piercy is a senior leader with a strong focus on process optimization, team development and exceeding business objectives. Piercy brings over two decades of experience with more than a decade in the logistics and supply chain industry. Most recently, she served as general manager for southeast at Flexport, a hyper-growth supply chain company. Building on the success achieved by Simbe’s retail partners, Piercy will implement and promote proven strategies to drive long-term value for both incoming and existing clients.
• Jeremy Wortsman as senior director of customer success — With over two decades of experience with field operations and program management across retail, fulfillment, and grocery and foodservice environments, Wortsman has a deep understanding of the operational challenges facing today’s retailers. Having led initiatives for companies like Target and Gopuff, he honed his skills in optimizing operational efficiency and driving bottom-line results. Wortsman's expertise and insight into the day-to-day operations of retailers will be instrumental in supporting customer success.

"We’re thrilled to welcome these incredible leaders who bring deep experience, knowledge and skill across retail, robotics, logistics, fulfillment and go-to-market," Brad Bogolea, co-founder and CEO of Simbe, said in the release. They will play a key role in driving continued business momentum and supporting our pioneering customers as they innovate retail practices and set new benchmarks for operational excellence.”

In January, the company announced an intelligence platform for wholesalers, following the launch and chainwide deployment with BJ's Wholesale Club. Simbe also unveiled an expanded partnership with SpartanNash in February, bringing its Store Intelligence platform to 60 additional SpartanNash-owned stores across the Midwest.