Circana Names Stuart Aitken as New CEO Amid Leadership Transition

Circana, a top advisor on consumer behavior, has announced that Stuart Aitken will assume the role of President and CEO starting January 1, 2025. He will replace Kirk Perry, who has chosen to step down but will continue to serve on the Circana Board of Directors. Alongside his new role, Aitken will also join the Board as a director.

Aitken transitions to Circana after serving as Chief Merchant and Marketing Officer at Kroger since 2019. During his time at Kroger, Aitken focused on enhancing people and culture, leveraging data and insights, and advancing shopper experiences, leading to considerable value creation for the company and its partners. He was instrumental in developing a customer-centric strategy for merchandising and marketing, which emphasized high-margin digital revenue channels, including analytics and retail media.

As part of the leadership transition, Tod Johnson, Chair of the Circana Board, commented on the company’s succession planning. He noted that Perry and the Board had been searching for the ideal candidate to steer Circana into the future and expressed confidence in Aitken’s selection. Johnson highlighted Aitken’s strategic and innovative leadership, as well as his extensive background in retail, technology, and data analytics, as assets that would drive value for the organization, its employees, and its global clientele.

Aitken expressed gratitude for the opportunity to join Circana, stating his eagerness to collaborate with colleagues worldwide to further solidify Circana’s industry leadership. He emphasized his long-standing appreciation for Circana’s platform and the pivotal role it plays within the consumer ecosystem, underscoring the potential to foster continued growth and innovation across various global sectors with the company’s advanced technology, data, and expertise.

Johnson also reflected on Perry’s tenure as CEO, acknowledging his role in facilitating the merger that established Circana as a key advisor in the consumer behavior field. He praised Perry’s commitment to enhancing client and employee experiences while achieving consistently strong results. Johnson extended the Board’s gratitude for Perry’s leadership and ongoing dedication to the company.

Perry, in turn, expressed pride in the progress Circana had made during his four years as CEO. He credited the company’s success to the contributions of its teams, clients, and partners and voiced confidence in Aitken’s ability to guide Circana through its next phase of growth. Perry indicated his enthusiasm for working closely with Aitken and the Board as he transitions from his executive role.

Aitken brings a wealth of experience from his time leading teams in retail, marketing, and analytics. At Kroger, he oversaw critical areas such as sales, pricing, digital merchandising, e-commerce, and private brand strategy. Before Kroger, Aitken was CEO of 84.51°, Kroger’s analytics division, and its predecessor, dunnhumby USA. His diverse career spans multiple industries, with leadership roles at companies including Michaels Stores and Safeway, Inc., and he began his career in the tech sector at ASA, Inc. and Platinum Technology International.

Originally hailing from Scotland, Aitken holds a bachelor’s degree with distinction from Queen Margaret University and a master’s degree in Information Management from the University of Strathclyde. He currently serves on the Boards of InvenTrust, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, and the Food Marketing Institute.

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