Retail Insight Network

NRF Foundation names seven retail leaders shaping the industry’s future

The NRF Foundation has named seven executives to its 2027 list of retail leaders shaping the industry's future.

The NRF Foundation, the charitable arm of the US-based National Retail Federation (NRF), has named seven executives from companies including Fast Retailing, Tapestry and Wayfair to its 2027 List of People Shaping Retail’s Future.

The annual list recognises retail executives working across areas including store operations, technology, marketing, creative strategy and international growth.

The seven honourees will be recognised at the NRF Foundation Honors in New York City on 10 January 2027.

NRF Foundation names 2027 honourees

The executives selected for the 2027 list are:

Emilie Arel, president, Mitchell & Ness
Amiee Bayer-Thomas, chief retail officer, Ulta Beauty
Kim Gallagher, executive director of marketing and customer success, Nuuly
John C Jay, president of global creative, Fast Retailing
Steve Peters, senior vice president and head of stores and operations, Old Navy
Sandeep Seth, chief growth officer and president of Tapestry International, Tapestry
Fiona Tan, chief technology officer, Wayfair

The selection brings together executives with responsibilities across different parts of the retail business, including stores and operations, technology, marketing, creative work and international growth.

Fast Retailing is the Japan-based parent company of Uniqlo and other brands, while US luxury group Tapestry owns brands including Coach and Kate Spade.

Seth combines his role as Tapestry's chief growth officer with responsibility for Tapestry International.

Wayfair chief technology officer Tan represents the technology side of the sector, while Jay oversees global creative at Fast Retailing.

Peters leads stores and operations at Old Navy, while Bayer-Thomas is chief retail officer at Ulta Beauty. Gallagher's role at clothing rental business Nuuly combines marketing and customer success, while Arel is president of Mitchell & Ness.

Retail leadership and careers

Steve Preston, president and CEO of Goodwill Industries and chairman of the NRF Foundation board of directors, said the 2027 honourees "exemplify the talent and vision moving retail forward".

Preston said their leadership combines "bold innovation with ingenuity" and is helping shape the future of retail.

Adam Lukoskie, senior vice president of the NRF and executive director of the NRF Foundation, said the executives also demonstrate the range of career opportunities available across retail.

"Their leadership, innovation and dedication are shaping and evolving the industry while paving the way for the next generation of trailblazers," Lukoskie said.

The NRF Foundation said previous recipients of the recognition have included leaders from established brands, emerging start-ups and other organisations across the retail sector.

The foundation focuses on retail education, training and career development. It provides more than $1m in retail scholarships and grants each year and engages more than 100,000 people through its retail industry training programmes.

It also works with more than 2,000 educational and workforce partners. More than 350 retailers and industry partners support the foundation's work, according to the organisation.