Executive Leadership Joins 2026 Lineup
The Lead Summit has confirmed a significant expansion of its speaker roster for the upcoming conference in New York. The new additions represent a broad cross-section of the retail and direct-to-consumer (DTC) sectors, focusing on digital commerce, marketing strategy, and brand operations.
Jennifer Hyman, Co-Founder and CEO of Rent the Runway, and Stephanie Unwin, President of Veronica Beard, are among the high-profile executives scheduled to appear. The fashion and apparel segment is further bolstered by leadership from luxury and contemporary brands, including Jess Burns of rag & bone and Katherine Kim Choroco of Vince.
Operational and strategic perspectives will be provided by Patrick Walsh, COO of Knitwell Group (representing Ann Taylor, Chico’s, and Talbots), and Candan Erenguc, COO of Anthropologie. Meanwhile, Tommy Kowalski, VP of Digital Commerce for HeyDude and Crocs, will address the evolving landscape of digital sales and performance marketing.
Marketing and Brand Strategy Focus
The update also highlights a shift toward performance-driven marketing and brand building. CMOs and marketing VPs from major beauty and lifestyle brands have joined the program, including:
- Rachel Lockett, VP of Marketing at MAC Cosmetics
- Jake Galtere, CMO at Naturium
- Carley Caldas, SVP of Marketing & Creative at eos Products
These speakers are expected to discuss customer acquisition strategies, attribution models, and the integration of digital commerce into established retail frameworks.
Affilitizer Editorial Team
This article was created with AI assistance and editorially reviewed.
