Top 10: CSCOs in Retail
Consumers rarely see the lengthy, behind-the-scenes process that enables the products they purchase to reach the shop floor.
Of course, it's all overseen by the chief supply chain officer (CSCO) and their equivalents.
Here, Supply Chain Digital looks at the Top 10 CSCOs and leaders within retail who are making an impact on their companies' global supply chains and ensuring the best quality products hit the shelves.
Whether they're optimising efficiency, driving expansion, improving global sourcing or pushing for sustainable practices, these leaders are doing great things to develop their supply chains.
10. Gretchen McCarthy
Position: Chief Supply Chain and Logistics Officer
Company: Target
Revenue: US$106.5bn
Gretchen has worked at Target for more than 20 years, working her way up the supply chain ladder.
She has served as Chief Supply Chain and Logistics Officer since 2022, overseeing the organisation's entire global supply chain and logistics network. This includes replenishment, fulfilment, logistics and distribution.
She has driven new tech introductions to the Target team as a way to add more speed and efficiency to operations.
9. Rajnish Kapur
Position: SVP, Chief Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Officer
Company: Walgreens Boots Alliance
Revenue: US$147.7bn
Rajnish is SVP and Chief Global Sourcing and Supply Chain Officer at Walgreens Boots Alliance, where he has worked for almost 12 years. His current role means leading all merchandise operations, retail supply chain and inventory management for Walgreens.
He has a Master of Business Administration and has spent more than 20 years working within retail management.
Rajnish has worked in various countries around the world and led a range of diverse teams. He thrives on challenges and believes his continuous improvement mindset helps him form the best strategic plans.
8. Venkatesh Alagirisamy
Position: Chief Supply Chain Officer
Company: Nike
Revenue: US$51.4bn
Venkatesh is an enterprise leader with a demonstrated history of leading global teams through large transformations.
He became CSCO at Nike in 2020, where he oversees the transformation of end-to-end supply chain. He is in charge of the full operation, from raw material, sourcing, logistics and fulfilment.
Within his role, Venkatesh aims to provide inspiration and engagement to athletes and teammates. He also has a focus on advancing gender equity, health and safety and environmental responsibility within the supply chain.
7. Guohong Lu
Position: Head of Supply Chain
Company: JD.com
Revenue: RMB1,158.8bn (US$158.8bn)
Guohong has been with JD.com for eight years and has held the role of Head of Supply Chain, North America since 2020.
With JD, he has assumed various logistics positions and worked across the globe.
Guohong operates in tandem with advanced technology to apply his logistics expertise to JD.com, creating smart supply chain and logistics solutions.
6. John Deaton
Position: Executive Vice President – Supply Chain & Product Development
Company: The Home Depot
Revenue: US$159.5bn
John is EVP of Supply Chain and Product Development at The Home Depot, leading the business in its efforts to build an efficient and reliable supply chain.
Since joining the company in 2007, he has played an integral role in HD’s supply chain transformation.
The rollout of Home Depot’s Rapid Deployment Centres (RDCs), led by John, improved the speed and efficiency of store replenishment. His current role sees him take charge of logistics, distribution, transportation, delivery and inventory management.
5. Tanja Dysli
Position: Chief Supply Chain Officer, US
Company: Ingka Group
Revenue: €41.8bn (US$44.9bn)
Tanja joined the Ingka Group in 2003 as IKEA’s Supply Chain Specialist in Sweden. Since then, she has climbed the supply chain ladder, working around the world, before assuming her current role in 2019.
In her role as CSCO for the US, she is driving the transformation of IKEA’s stores into cutting-edge fulfilment centres and ensuring efficient global product flow.
As a result of her thorough understanding of the IKEA brand, Tanja is helping the company modernise through last-mile delivery and optimising warehouse strategy.
4. Roxanne Weng
Position: Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer
Company: Dollar General
Revenue: US$40.6bn
Roxanne brings three decades of leadership and supply chain experience to Dollar General as EVP and CSCO, leading distribution, transportation, inventory management and master data management.
Her extensive expertise encompasses pharmacy, store and retail operations, asset protection and supply chain.
In 2008, Roxanne received her Master of Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.
3. Gabriel Arreaga
Position: Senior Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer
Company: Kroger
Revenue: US$147bn
Gabriel has been SVP and Chief Supply Chain Officer at Kroger for approximately five years.
He offers more than two decades of supply chain experience, during which time he has led more than 82,000 people.
During his career, Gabriel has built global operations, led supply chain transformation, driven operational turnaround and delivered multi-billion-dollar revenue growth.
He gained his Master of Business Administration from the INCAE Business School.
2. Mark Irvin
Position: Executive Vice President, Chief Supply Chain Officer
Company: Best Buy
Revenue: US$43bn
Mark joined the company in 2013 and now oversees strategy and operations across Best Buy’s global supply chain network.
The company operates more than 1,000 stores across North America, with more than 85,000 employees.
Mark is responsible for overseeing distribution centres, ensuring domestic and international transportation runs efficiently and is responsible for final-mile fulfilment.
He has worked in supply chain leadership for more than 30 years and has an MBA from Franklin University.
1. Rob Montgomery
Position: Executive Vice President, Supply Chain
Company: Walmart
Revenue: US$648.1bn
As Executive Vice President of Supply Chain, Rob is responsible for leading Walmart’s distribution centres and fulfilment centres.
He has been a part of Walmart’s supply chain for 19 years, working across Brazil and the US.
Rob's previous role as SVP of Business Operations and Planning involved overseeing E2E capacity planning, safety and quality assurance and inventory flow.
He is a champion of respect, integrity and excellence throughout the supply chain.
Rob gained his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Virginia Tech University.
