Big Lots Appoints Gurmeet Singh as Chief Technology Officer
Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) announced the appointment of Gurmeet Singh as Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer, effective July 12, 2021. Mr. Singh succeeds Stew Wenerstrom, who will retire in October after aiding in the transition. With over 30 years of experience in IT, including leadership roles at Al Futtaim Group and 7-Eleven, Singh aims to enhance Big Lots' technology platform, reinforcing its position as a leader in omnichannel retailing. He will report to President and CEO Bruce Thorn.
- Gurmeet Singh brings over 30 years of IT experience, enhancing leadership capabilities.
- He previously led significant technology initiatives at major companies, potentially driving innovation at Big Lots.
- Big Lots was ranked #1 in Total Retail's 2020 Top Omnichannel Retailers Report, indicating strong performance that Singh can build upon.
- Transitioning leadership may introduce continuity risks during the onboarding process.
COLUMBUS, Ohio, July 13, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) ("Big Lots" or the "company") today announced that Gurmeet Singh has been appointed Executive Vice President, Chief Technology Officer of Big Lots, effective July 12, 2021. Mr. Singh succeeds Stew Wenerstrom, who will be officially retiring in October following a transition period. Mr. Singh will report directly to Bruce Thorn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Big Lots.
Mr. Singh, who received a Ph.D. in Engineering from Rice University, has more than 30 years of experience in information technology. Most recently, Mr. Singh was the Group Chief Digital Officer at the Al Futtaim Group in Dubai, leading all technology, data and digital efforts for the conglomerate. Previously he served as Executive Vice President, Chief Digital, Information and Marketing Officer at 7-Eleven Inc. and prior to that held similar roles at CapitalOne, Intuit Inc. and FedEx. Mr. Singh has been recognized by industry peers with a number of awards, including the 2019 Retail Tech Innovator award.
"We're really excited to welcome Gurmeet to Big Lots and to my staff," said Bruce Thorn, President and Chief Executive Officer of Big Lots. "Gurmeet is a proven transformation leader in the retail technology space. Big Lots was recently named the #1 retailer in Total Retail's 2020 Top Omnichannel Retailers Report, and I am confident that Gurmeet will help us continue to innovate and grow our technology platform to even better serve our customer when, where and how she wants to shop."
"As a self-professed technology enthusiast with a passion for innovation and customer experience, I couldn't be happier to join the Big Lots team at this point in its omnichannel journey," said Mr. Singh. "I look forward to leading the already strong Big Lots technology team."
Mr. Thorn added, "As much as we are looking forward to having Gurmeet join our team, we need to acknowledge Stew's more than 18 years of fantastic service to Big Lots. Before he retires in October, Stew will be able to help onboard Gurmeet and give him a huge leg up in his transition. Even after his retirement, Stew will continue to be a part of the Big Lots family, and we will miss him."
About Big Lots
Headquartered in Columbus, Ohio, Big Lots, Inc. (NYSE: BIG) is a neighborhood discount retailer, operating 1,414 stores in 47 states, as well as a best-in-class ecommerce platform with expanded capabilities via BOPIS, curbside pickup, Instacart and Big Lots NOW with same day delivery. The company's product assortment is focused on home essentials: Furniture, Seasonal, Soft Home, Food, Consumables and Hard Home. A Fortune 500 company and ranked #1 on Total Retail's 2020 Top 100 Omnichannel Retailers list, Big Lots' mission is to help people Live BIG and Save Lots. The company strives to be the BIG difference for a better life by delivering unmatched value to customers through the ultimate treasure hunt shopping experience, being a "best place to work" culture for associates, rewarding shareholders with consistent growth and top-tier returns, and doing good in local communities. For more information about the company, visit www.biglots.com.
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SOURCE Big Lots, Inc.
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