WESTBOROUGH, Mass., 2017-May-31 — /EPR Retail News/ — BJ’s Wholesale Club today (May 30, 2017) announced two new leaders that will drive the company’s technology roadmap and omnichannel transformation.
Scott Kessler has been named executive vice president, Chief Information Officer (CIO), effective immediately. In addition, Rafeh Masood has joined BJ’s as senior vice president, Chief Digital Officer (CDO).
“BJ’s has made rapid progress in our omnichannel initiatives, and I’m pleased to have two new executives of this caliber join our team as we transform our company,” said Christopher J. Baldwin, president and Chief Executive Officer, BJ’s Wholesale Club. “Both Scott and Rafeh have extensive experience in building teams and delivering the technology and systems that drive growth. They will lead the investment in technology, people and systems as we build the omnichannel and digital platforms that showcase our value and deliver convenience to our members.”
Kessler has extensive experience leading Information Technology at multi-billion dollar retailers and e-commerce companies. He has built systems that support rapid sales growth and delivered improvements in IT service and efficiency.
Most recently, Kessler was executive vice president, CIO, at Belk, a $4 billion department store chain with nearly 300 stores. Prior to that, Kessler was senior vice president, products technology, at GSI Commerce, a global provider of e-commerce and interactive marketing services for some of the world’s leading brands. He also held a leadership position at Accenture, working for a variety of global clients.
He holds an MBA and a Bachelor of Science from Farleigh Dickinson University.
Kessler takes over the position held by Peter Amalfi, who plans to retire later this year. “I want to thank Peter for his countless contributions to BJ’s since joining the company in 2001,” Baldwin said. “Peter played a leading role in building the physical and digital infrastructure that enabled the company to grow into a leading wholesale club. His leadership created the foundation for our transformation and his contributions will be felt for years to come.”
In a newly created role, Masood will drive the strategy and vision for the company’s e-commerce and omnichannel efforts. He will focus on programs and initiatives that drive sales, showcase value and enhance convenience for members.
Masood has broad experience in operations and digital initiatives and a record of building successful e-commerce programs at major retailers. His strong leadership and collaborative style will make him a valuable member of the BJ’s leadership team and a key driver of its transformation.
Masood joins BJ’s from Dick’s Sporting Goods, where he was vice president, customer innovation technology. At Dick’s, Masood was responsible for all digital platforms, enterprise architecture and the use of technology to improve the customer experience.
Masood holds a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems from DePaul University in Chicago.
About BJ’s Wholesale Club, Inc.
Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ’s is the leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 214 clubs and 132 BJ’s Gas® locations in 16 states.
BJ’s provides a one-stop shopping destination filled with top-quality, leading brands, including its exclusive Wellsley Farms® and Berkley Jensen® brands, along with USDA Choice meats, premium produce and delicious organics, many in supermarket sizes. BJ’s is also the only major membership warehouse club to accept all manufacturers’ coupons and, for greater convenience, offers the most payment options.
Visit www.BJs.com, and for exclusive content find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.
BJ’s is wholly owned by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, CVC Capital Partners and its management team.
For further information:
Kirk Saville
ksaville@bjs.com
774-512-7425
Kristy Houston
khouston@bjs.com
774-512-5086
SOURCE: BJ’s Wholesale Club