2026 RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

INFLUENCERS ASSEMBLE!

The latest edition of the RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers List is here! The list has seen a surge in popularity over the past few years, to the point that we’ve decided publishing it once a year is no longer enough. Here, then, is the first edition for 2026, with some names dropping out of the top 100 and some new names coming in (the latter are flagged as new entries for ease of reference).

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

We’re witnessing a seismic change in shopping habits. Retailers are doubling down on innovative technologies like AR, AI, machine learning, robotics, and automation, 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 excellence.

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.

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

Scott Thompson, Founder and Editor, RTIH

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

BECKY LOMBARDO | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Helping fast growth global eCom businesses scale and grow profitably | Logistics | Supply Chain | Operations | SME | eCommerce | Omnichannel | Retail | Scale Up | Start Up | Growth Accelerator | Advisor | COO.

ANDY GAMBLE

LinkedIn Bio Group CIO at Currys PLC | Investor | Former CIO Sony & Dyson.

PAULA BOBBETT

LinkedIn Bio Chief Data and Digital Officer @ Boots UK | Executive Director| NED.

VINETA BAJAJ

LinkedIn Bio Group CFO @ Holland & Barrett | ExOcado | Ex-Rohlik Group | Chief People Officer | NED | Mentor | Advisor | Investor | Top 100 Retail Tech Influencer 2024 | Expert.

ELAINE PARR

LinkedIn Bio Consumer Products, Retail & Luxury Industry Leader | Recognised Industry & LinkedIn Top Voice | The CPG Geek™ | Gender Equality & Talent Champion | Proud Mum of The Firecracker | IBMer |

IAN RASMUSSEN | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Leading the Future of Convenience Retail | Trusted Advisor to Executives | Leading Business Transformation & Customer Success.

GRAHAM BROOMFIELD

LinkedIn Bio Managing Director Austen & Blake | NED | Investor | CEO | Trustee | Advisory Board Member.

SHISH SHRIDHAR

LinkedIn Bio Global Retail Startups Lead | Top AI Leader 2024 | Top Retail Expert 2024 | Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers | Advisory Board | Public Speaker.

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

ANDREW BUSBY

LinkedIn Bio Senior Industry Adviser, BOXTEC | Retail Writer at Fortune | Founder, Redline Retail Consulting | BestSelling Author | Bookmark Charity Ambassador | ReTHINK Retail / RTIH Top 100 | Speaking: Speakers Corner.

ALICE RACKLEY

LinkedIn Bio Chief Executive Officer @ Polytag Limited | Circularity Pays - platform solutions to power sustainable businesses. Digital Product Passports and more. ISO certified. Global Brand Clients. VC Backed.

RESHAD HOSSENALLY | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Co-Founder & CEO - Boxbar TechReinventing Bars | Tech Advisor | Founded tech which generated $900m in sales.

DEANN CAMPBELL

LinkedIn Bio Retail turnaround through optimising stores | Global Speaker | Rethink Retail Top Global Influencer | RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencer.

OLIVIA ROBINSON | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Global Strategy & Enablement Director, VoCoVo.

MARTIN BAILIE | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Global Retail CEO | Multi-Award AI & Growth Expert | Founder MWB Advisory | Leading Retail Transformation via AI & Operational Excellence | Advisor PwC Strategy&, Vusion, Quorso | CEO Tesco/Tata, COO Lidl, Primark Board.

MICHELLE GRANT

LinkedIn Bio Director, Strategy and Insights, Retail and Consumer Goods at Salesforce.

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.

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

JAMES PEPPER

LinkedIn Bio CEO @ Vista Technology Support | Charity Sector Trustee.

DAN MCGRATH

LinkedIn Bio JD Group Customer Operations at JD Sports Fashion plc.

RICHARD NOON

LinkedIn Bio Implementation Engineer | Fintech & Technology I Payments Did you know i’m also a Retail Technology Innovation Hub 100 Tech Influencer for both 2024 & 2025 | Speaker at Retail Technology Show 2025.

SCOTT THOMPSON

LinkedIn Bio Editor and Founder at Retail Technology Innovation Hub and EdTech Innovation Hub. Organiser of the RTIH Innovation Awards and RTIH AI in Retail Awards. Member of the judging panel for EHI Retail Institute’s reta awards.

VIV CRASKE

LinkedIn Bio Retail Media, E-commerce consultant. Host: Retail Media Therapy Podcast. | Author: Surviving Digital Disruption.

MELISSA MOORE

LinkedIn Bio The Retail Advisor | The Retail Tea Break Podcast Host | Retail & Sales Lecturer | Conference Chair & Event MC | RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert |

DR. CHRISTIAN BOCK

LinkedIn Bio Bereichsleiter Unternehmensentwicklung Vertrieb | Empowering Tomorrow’s Retail Potential Today.

YAZ HANLEY | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Head of Customer Success @ Strongpoint ALS.

BECK BESECKER

LinkedIn Bio Founder & CEO at 3D Cloud.

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

MATTHEW TAYLOR

LinkedIn Bio CTO | Driving Business Value Through Global Technology, Cyber Security, Data and AI Leadership | CIO | Technology Executive.

PAULA MACAGGI

LinkedIn Bio Informing Retail Leaders | Founder of OFFBounds - #1 Podcast for Retail and Brands Executives | Reta Awards Judge | Top Retail Expert 2024 & 2025.

STEVE COLLINGE

LinkedIn Bio Rethink Retail Top Retail Expert 2026, RTIH Top 100 Retail Technology Influencer 2025, Commentator, Content Creator, International Speaker and Expert on the Home & Garden Industry. Group Managing Director.

TED MCCAFFREY | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Omnichannel Champion | Rethink Retail Top Retail Expert 2024-2026 | Retail Tech + RFID + AI |

Strategic Partnerships • Store Intelligence • Data-Driven Execution | Micro LinkedIn Influencer.

CAITLIN ALLEN

LinkedIn Bio RTIH Top 100 Retail Tech Influencer | PG 2025 Top Woman in Grocery | SVP of Market @ Simbe.

PAUL DO FORNO

LinkedIn Bio Global Commerce Practice Lead at Deloitte Digital.

DEAN D. MCELWEE | NEW

ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio VP of E-Commerce | Digital Transformation Leader | Expert in Digital Marketing & Strategy | Author of “eCommerce for CEOs” | Scaling Omnichannel Revenue & Brand Growth | Driving ROI through Data-Led Innovation.

MOHSEN GHASEMPOUR | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Chief AI Officer @ Kingfisher | NonExecutive Director @ Hays Travel.

DAVID POLINCHOCK

LinkedIn Bio Pres, Brand Experience Lab | Retail Innovation Strategist | RETHINK Retail Top Expert | RTIH Top Voice in Retail | |Top AI In Retail | Mentor | Writing book on 3rd Place with Sydney Polinchock.

MELISSA MINKOW | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Global Director, Retail Strategy & Insights at CI&T RETHINK Retail Top 100 Expert.

MIKE CADDEN

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

ASIF AZIZ

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

WALTER HOLBROOK

LinkedIn Bio YODA RETAIL | RETHINK Retail Top Expert 2024/2025/2026 | Leadership Development | Merchant | Transformation & Change Coach | Retail PioneerMad Man Era to Today | RTIH/3D Cloud Top 100 Retail Technology Influencers.

MATT BRADLEY

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

LinkedIn Bio Director & Founder - Retail Technology Show.

MARTIN NEWMAN

LinkedIn Bio One of the world’s leading authorities on customer centricity, a global speaker, part time chief customer officer, author, creator of the Mini MBA in Customer Centricity and a trusted board advisor.

CHRISTINE RUSSO

LinkedIn Bio Leading Industry Voice | Tech Scouting | Events | Believer in Converting with Content | Partnerships | Creator and Host What Just Happened Podcast on Spotify | Moderator, Advisory Board Member | Debate Winner.

TREVOR SUMNER

LinkedIn Bio CEO of i-Genie.ai - Top 100 Retail And Top 50 RetailTech Expert - Entrepreneur - Executive - Advisor – Angel.

Sharon Yourell Lawlor

GREG DEACON

LinkedIn Bio Commercial & Growth Leader | Quick Commerce, Retail Media & FMCG | Scaling Revenue, Partnerships & Market Expansion.

KOMAL KOUL | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Head of Digital Performance at Currys.

NICHOLAS FOUND | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Head of Commercial Content at Retail Economics.

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.

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

ROB SMITH | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Technology Officer @ East of England Coop | Technology Leadership.

BRITTAIN LADD

LinkedIn Bio Supply Chain AI Implementation l Supply

Chain Strategy l Automation l Supply Chain and Logistics

Consulting l Automotive l Industrials l Retail l Perishables l Healthcare l Oil & Gas l Chemicals l CPG l FMCG

JENNIFER STEPHENS

LinkedIn Bio CMO / CCO / NED | AI Native | FinTechTokenization / Digital Assets | B2B / B2C | I write about the intersection of culture, technology and business.

SHARON YOURELL LAWLOR

LinkedIn Bio Helping businesses develop innovative marketing strategies that connect effectively with today’s shoppers | International speaker | NRF Retail Voice | RETHINK Retail Top Expert ‘23 - ‘26 | RTIH Top 100 Tech Influencer ’25.

JO HICKSON

LinkedIn Bio Innovation Director | Emerging Tech | Product Leader | Growth generation / Transformation | NED | Start-up advisory.

CHRIS CONWAY | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Chief Digital Officer | Ecommerce Director | Commercial Director | Operations Director | Global Tech Top 50 Retail Week 2024 & Board Adviser.

ANDY BALDAUF

LinkedIn Bio Future Agent & Impact Architect for #EasyShopping | Decision-making across the shopping ecosystem | Switzerland → global.

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.

DOMINIQUE PIERRE LOCHER

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

TONY D’ONOFRIO

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

MIKE ANTHONY | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Driving brand sales without increasing retail spend. Rethink Retail Top 100 Expert: Shopper marketing training, retail key-note speaker; insights, strategy & capability: shopper marketing & customer teams.

VIRGINIA MARSH | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Top Retail Expert 2026, 2025 |AI Retail & CPG Data Strategist | Audience Activation & Data Monetization | AdTech & Martech Leader.

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

LEONID GLADILIN

LinkedIn Bio Global eCommerce Leader | Scaled Amazon/Costco-equiv. to $720M+ ARR | P&L, DTC & Omnichannel Growth | Top Retail Expert 2025, 2026 | Top 100 Retail Tech Influencer 2024, 2025.

RICHARD HAMMOND

LinkedIn Bio Uncrowd CEO & Founder | Expert in Experience Analytics.

HENRIK HÄLLBERG | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio MD @ WAIR Nordic | AI native | Inventory Planning | Fashion.

DAVID PERKS | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Experienced MD | Rethink Retail Industry Expert | Tesco | Sainsbury’s | Kingfisher | BP | Accenture |

TOBY PICKARD

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

GLENN FAULKNER

LinkedIn Bio Automating Retail | Innovative Infrastructure & Hardware Product Manager.

GILES SMITH | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio CPO/CTO | Keynote Speaker | Technologist | Executive, Leader & Board Trusted Advisor @ Burberry, Unilever, Selfridges, John Lewis, Matalan, Arcadia, Walmart, Woolworths, Mondelez, Diageo, Kao, Kimberley Clarke, Waitrose+.

ALEX BAKER

LinkedIn Bio Co-creating the new retail ecosystem.

NATALIE BERG

LinkedIn Bio Retail Analyst | Author | Host of the Retail Disrupted Podcast.

MARTIN SCHOFIELD

LinkedIn Bio CEO at Retail247 | PIM and Stock SaaS Solutions.

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

BEN GIBBINS

LinkedIn Bio Director @ WeComm | Retail Technology, Transformation & Product Executive Search and Senior Appointments | Building Retail’s Most Impactful Leadership Community - Future of Retail.

KATE HARDCASTLE

LinkedIn Bio The Customer Whisperer™ partnering brands to delight consumers globally. Creating trust & growth | NonExec Director | Advisor | Broadcaster | Keynote Speaker | Author,The Science of Shopping | Award winning Maker of Joy.

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.

SIMEON SIEGEL

LinkedIn Bio Managing Director, Senior Analyst, Board Member.

MARK SIMPSON | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Retail / Technology Advisor / CEO / NED / Ex ASDA Exco - Chief Supply Chain and Transformation Officer.

NADINE NEATROUR

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

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 ConsultantGrocery Pragmatist - Magician – Rabbi.

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.

MICHAEL GUZZETTA | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Product & Innovation Leader | Omnichannel Retail & Guest Experience | AI, Automation & Platforms | $552M+ Impact | USAF Veteran.

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 | DataDriven Retail Marketing.

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

CAMILLA YOUNG

LinkedIn Bio Chief Firestarter | Retail Transformation Leader | Connected Packaging Evangelist | High Impact Career Coach for Courageous Change Makers | DM me to talk future of retail or career reinvention.

JUSTIN BRETON

LinkedIn Bio Marketing executive driving meaningful customer engagement through innovation; Recognised as Ad Age 40 Under 40, Event Marketer Watchlist, Brand Innovators 40 Under 40, & Business Insider Rising Star of Brand Marketing.

STEVE DENNIS | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Transforming Retail QA | Giving Technology Leaders the Confidence to Launch at Scale. With Zero Surprises.

GONEN GERSHUNI

LinkedIn Bio Unmanned Stores | Auto Pick & Pack | 24/7 Omnichannel | 100% Loss Prevention ☑️ Automation & Robotics Pro | Top Retail Expert @ RETHINK Retail | RTIH Top 100 Retail Tech Influencer | Entrepreneur & Mentor.

ISABELL AAKERVIK

LinkedIn Bio Chief Expansion Officer at Sitoo | MACH Alliance Community Council Member | Women in MACH Ambassador.

MERIEL NEIGHBOUR | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Global Transformation Director | Leadership - Delivery | Digital, eCommerce, Point of Sale, ERP | Award winning | Customer focused | Technology and Business Change portfolio strategist | Results driven | Mentor |Speaker.

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

LinkedIn Bio Award winning industry leader | Global Retail Authority | Retail Voices by NRF 2025 | Top Retail Expert 2023 - 2025 | Keynote Speaker | Author | C-Suite roles & Board positions | Mentor.

GLEN RICHARDSON

LinkedIn Bio Non Executive Director | Former COO @ The Range, CMO @ Fruugo.

CARL BOUTET

LinkedIn Bio Retail Prescriptor | Marketing Educator | Global Strategist | Board Member & Advisor |

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

YATHU KANAGARATNAM | NEW

ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Head of Technology & AI Strategy | AwardWinning AI & Digital Transformation Leader | Retail Tech | E-Commerce | Building AI Systems That Deliver Real Business Results.

CHAMIAH DEWEY | NEW

ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Strategic Consultant, Founder, 16x Award Winner, Drapers 30 Under 30 & Public Speaker.

HARRY RIDLEY

LinkedIn Bio Head of Technology at Levy UK + Ireland.

OLIVER BAGGALEY | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio General Manager, Autonomous Stores at Trigo.

SVETLANA STOTSKAYA

LinkedIn Bio Global Omnichannel Marketing / Strategy / AI & Data / Mentor at Techstars, Startup Wise Guys, Founder Institute / Awards Jury Member / Speaker / CMO Council.

BELLA TRANG NGO | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio Founder at Brarista - We make bra & swimwear shopping so much easier | Sifted’s Femtech Startup to watch | Draper’s Tech Innovator Finalist | Women in Innovation Awardee.

CHRIS DUNN | NEW ENTRY

LinkedIn Bio COO & Co-Founder @ FoundIt! | Driving sales & revenue for retailers through innovative marketing technology.

ROGER DUNN | NEW ENTRY

RTIH’s Top 100 Influencers

LinkedIn Bio Global Retail Media Lead |LinkedIn Top Voice | Keynote Speaker | The Drum Commerce Media Power 100 | Retail Media Leader of the Year | RETHINK Top Retail Expert | WFA & IAB Council | Marketing BSc & MBA.

TOBIAS CATERER

LinkedIn Bio EMEA Strategic Accounts Lead - RTIH Top 100 Retail Tech Influencer 2025.

PATRYK POWIERŻA

LinkedIn Bio Chief Growth & Innovation Officer at x-kom | Forbes 30u30 | Robotics.

CAROLE KINGSBURY

LinkedIn Bio CIO | Technology Director | Peoplefocussed Change and Digital Transformation Leader.

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.