Transforming Retail Awards 2019: The Judges

 

Retail Insider is delighted to introduce and profile its judging panel for our third ‘Transforming Retail’ Awards. We hope you will agree that we have an outstanding line up ready to cast their eyes over the entries, in fact although we are biased we would argue that there is not an awards in the whole of the UK retail industry with a stronger panel. You need to get your company in front of these people. So here they are:

 

Paul Clarke, CTO, Ocado

Paul has been with Ocado for 13 years and served as its chief technology officer for seven and a half years. He initially worked on warehouse control systems before joining the team designing Ocado’s next highly automated fulfilment centre. Since taking on the role of CTO in early 2012, Paul has focused on growing Ocado Technology to over 1,300 engineers and building an acclaimed technical brand. He has played an instrumental role for the vision behind and the development of the Ocado Smart Platform (OSP). He is a champion for disruptive thinking in areas such as AI, robotics, infrastructure and education.

 

Clodagh Moriarty, group chief digital officer, J Sainsbury

Clodagh has been the group chief digital officer at Sainsbury’s since 2018 when the role was created for her. She is in charge of delivering a consistent and first-rate digital experience for customers across Sainsbury’s, Argos, Sainsbury’s Bank and Nectar. She joined Sainsbury’s in 2010 from Bain & Co management consultants and worked for two years as head of strategy. Later she moved into Food Commercial as Category Manager for Meal Solutions and then became head of online trading before being promoted to director of online in 2016.

 

 

Paul Wilkinson, head of product for space, range and display, Tesco

Paul was Tesco Labs’ head of technology, research and open innovation for four years. He was previously Tesco’s technology leadership graduate from 2010 to 2012 and IT specialist – research from 2012 to 2014. In 2018 he moved from the post at Tesco Labs, which tests new technology ahead of its roll-out in the retail business, and took up a new role within the commercial team at Tesco as the supermarket’s head of product for space, range and display. Paul has also played a key part in introducing Tesco’s voice shopping offering on Google Home smart speakers and Android phones.

 

Edwina Dunn, CEO, Starcount

Edwina is best known as co-founder of the international data analytics company Dunnhumby, a business she launched from her kitchen table with her husband Clive Humby in 1989. Dunnhumby were the innovators behind the creation of Tesco Clubcard and widely credited with redefining the relationship between retailers and customers worldwide. Edwina is currently CEO of Starcount, a digital start-up that measures the global tastes and trends of 1.7 billion people across 12 of the world’s largest social networks, before applying a progressive view of data science to help brands navigate their social media journey.

 

Martin Newman, founder, Customer First Group

Martin is a renowned keynote speaker, columnist, author, and expert advisor on customer-centric transformation and consumer experience. His lengthy biography includes 37 years of working in the consumer-facing sector, founding and chairing e-commerce consultancy Practicology, and heading up multi-channel operations for brands such as Burberry, Ted Baker and Harrods. He is also a columnist, author, expert and advisor on customer-centric transformation.

 

Lawrence Shaw, CEO, Sitemorse

Lawrence founded Sitemorse 27 years ago and has been its CEO for the bulk of that period. Sitemorse aims to replace sporadic and often manual assessment and searching of digital content. His expertise lies in his understanding of how to improve online user experience – while simultaneously increasing agility, improving optimisation and reducing risk.

 

Craig Smith, digital commerce director, Ted Baker

Craig was brand communication director at Ted Baker for 23 years before moving to his current role of digital commerce director nearly two years ago. As brand director he was responsible for international brand strategy encompassing all marketing, PR, social, CRM, e-commerce, digital and creative functions.

 

Simon Calver, head of venture investments, BGF Ventures

Simon has a broad breadth of experience including in 2015 becoming one of the founding partners at BGF Ventures, an early stage £200m early stage investment company focusing on the UK which has completed 24 company investments to date. Prior to that he spent seven years at LoveFilm as CEO where he oversaw the sale to Amazon in 2011 before taking up the role of CEO of Mothercare where he worked from 2012 – 2014. He has also had stints with other multinationals such as PepsiCo and Unilever.

 

Sarah McVittie, co-founder, Dressipi

Starting out as an analyst with UBS, in 2010 Sarah co-founded Dressipi, an innovative fashion and online styling service helping customers to find clothes that match their ‘digital fashion fingerprint’.​ It uses technology to challenge the status quo and raise the bar on consumer services. The business combines online tools with the expertise of leading fashion stylists and journalists to ensure customers make smarter shopping decisions.