The National Retail Federation is pleased to announce that Amazon, Crocs, Kohls and lululemon are the recipients of its prestigious annual awards. The award winners are selected each year by select members of the NRF Board who comprise its Award Committee. Each companys top ranking executive, will accept their awards during the Annual Retail Industry Luncheon at NRFs Annual Convention and EXPO, Retails BIG Show, on Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2013.
In this highly competitive industry, its important for retailers to continue to evolve with their customers expectations, while also thinking outside the box when it comes to innovation and consumer value, said NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay. We know we dont have to look far to find our award winners each year as retailers are some of the most ground-breaking companies in the world, setting examples for other industries in customer service and experience, innovation and leadership. We applaud our winners this year and are thrilled to honor them in front of their peers.
Gold Medal Award: Amazon Founder and CEO, Jeff Bezos
The Gold Medal is the most coveted award in retail, given to an individual who has served the industry with distinction and achieved a national reputation for excellence. The recipient has also displayed creative genius and inspirational leadership and has won the respect of fellow merchants for devotion to the retail craft.
This years recipient of the Gold Medal Award is Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com. Founded in 1994, Amazons mission is to be Earth’s most customer-centric company. Under Bezos leadership, Amazon continues to re-invent both itself and entire industries. Amazon operates a global online retail business with low prices and fast delivery on millions of items, designs and builds the bestselling Kindle e-readers and tablets, and offers a world-class digital media ecosystem with over 22 million movies, TV shows, songs, apps, games, and books. Amazon even empowers companies and governments in over 190 countries around the world with the leading cloud computing infrastructure through its Amazon Web Services offering.
Retail Innovator of the Year: Crocs, Inc., President and CEO, John McCarvel
The recipient of this award has successfully distinguished himself as a retail pioneer through the use of new, innovative or imaginative techniques, formats or service. Furthermore, this individual has demonstrated an ability to sustain and build this concept in the face of challenges.
John P. McCarvel has served as chief executive officer and president of Crocs, Inc. since 2010. Prior to this appointment, McCarvel served as Crocs chief operating officer and executive vice president since October 2006, in which time he was instrumental in building the companys global operations infrastructure, global wholesale and direct to consumer channels, as well as spearheading Crocs Asian business operations.
McCarvel previously served as senior vice president for global product development and operations from October 2005 to September 2006, and vice president of Crocs Asia division from January 2005 to September 2005, after first serving as a consultant to the company in 2004.
Prior to joining Crocs, McCarvel spent four years as the Asian vice president for the design, test and semiconductor division of Flextronics, Inc., where he responsible for establishing and growing the companys product development infrastructure throughout the Asian market.
International Retailer of the Year: lululemon athletica CEO, Christine Day
This award is given annually to an individual who has achieved international recognition for excellence in their native country and internationally.
Christine Day has been chief executive officer of lululemon athletica since June 2008. As CEO, Day is responsible for creating and executing lululemon athleticas long -term business strategies, directing the companys continued development, and reinforcing lululemons position as a global leader of yoga-inspired womens athletic apparel. Day joined the lululemon team in January 2008 as executive vice president, retail operations, where she oversaw retail operations in North America and internationally.
Prior to lululemon, Day spent 20 years at Starbucks where she held several key senior management positions and learned the intricacies of high-growth business development in a strong cultural company.
Day has a BA degree from Central Washington University and is a graduate of Harvard Business School’s Advanced Management Program. She is currently a director of Select Comfort Corporation, a provider of adjustable-firmness beds and other sleep-related accessory products.
Silver Plaque: Kohls Senior Executive Vice President of Logistics, Ken Bonning
The Silver Plaque Award is presented to a senior executive with an NRF member company or retail-related organization who has achieved prominence in his or her individual field and, who has shown outstanding leadership in his or her NRF council or Committee work, making a major contribution to the retail industry and/or to NRF.
Kenneth Bonning was promoted to senior executive vice president at Kohls in May 2011 and is responsible for logistics and information systems. He previously served as executive vice president, logistics, facilities and store planning from October 2006 to May 2011 and as executive vice president, logistics from February 2004 to October 2006. Bonning joined Kohls as senior vice president, logistics in January 2001 and has more than 20 years experience in the retail industry. Bonning is the former chairman of NRFs Strategic Supply Chain Council and played an instrumental role in the planning, implementation and launch of NRFs Global Supply Chain Summit in May of 2011.
