Industry leaders to be honored at Big Show
Executives from The Home Depot, Warby Parker and Chico’s will receive top honors from the retail industry next month when the National Retail Federation convenes its annual Big Show in New York.
Frank Blake, former Home Depot CEO and current chairman, will receive NRF’s Gold Medal Award. Vision wear retailer Warby Parker will receive the Retail Innovator of the Year Award with company co-founders and co-CEOs David Gilboa and Neil Blumenthal accepting the award. Miki Beradelli, president of digital, chief marketing officer and executive vice president at Chico’s FAS Inc. will receive the NRF Silver Plaque award. Additionally, France’s Galeries Lafayette will be named International Retailer of the Year with Executive Chairman Philippe Houzé accepting the award on behalf of the company. The award recipients are selected each year by the NRF Board of Directors’ Awards Committee with the presentation scheduled for January 12 during a keynote session at Retail’s BIG Show, NRF’s 104th Annual Convention and Expo.
“As evidenced by The Home Depot’s loyal customer base and storied success, Frank Blake is an excellent choice for the Gold Medal Award,” NRF President and CEO Matthew Shay said. “His focus on customer service and employee culture will help solidify his place in history as a great retail leader. We are honored to be able to recognize all of our award recipients this year for their esteemed leadership and professionalism and look forward to working with them for years to come.”
The Gold Medal Award is given to an individual who has served the industry with distinction and achieved a national reputation for excellence, according to NRF. The recipient is also someone who has displayed creative genius and inspirational leadership and has won the respect of fellow merchants for devotion to the retail craft.
Blake became chairman and CEO of The Home Depot in January 2007. He stepped down as CEO in October but continues to serve as chairman. He was vice chairman from October 2006 to January 2007, and executive vice president for business development and corporate operations from 2002 until January 2007. In the latter position, Blake was responsible for the company’s real estate, store construction, credit services, strategic business development, growth initiatives, and international and Home Services businesses. He previously served in a variety of executive positions at General Electric, including senior vice president for corporate business development in charge of worldwide mergers, acquisitions, and dispositions and identification of strategic growth opportunities.
The Retail Innovator of the Year Award is given to a company that is well known as a pioneer in the retail industry through the use of new, innovative or imaginative techniques, formats or service. Warby Parker is a transformative lifestyle brand that seeks to offer eyewear at a revolutionary price while leading the way for socially conscious businesses with a mission is to radically transform the optical industry while demonstrating social responsibility, according to NRF.
The Silver Plaque award to be received by Chico’s Beradelli, is presented to a senior executive at an NRF member company or retail-related organization who has achieved prominence in his or her individual field and has shown outstanding leadership in NRF committee work, making a major contribution to the retail industry or NRF.
Beradelli joined Chico’s earlier this year as president of digital commerce and chief marketing officer and is responsible for digital commerce and marketing across four brands including Chico’s, White House Black Market, Soma Intimates and Boston Proper. From 2009 to 2014, she was chief marketing officer at Tory Burch, where she was responsible for global marketing, public relations and e-commerce. She was senior vice president of marketing for Ralph Lauren from 2002 to 2009.
Beradelli is a former chairwoman of NRF’s Shop.org division, where she is currently serving her fourth term on the Board of Directors and her second term on the Executive Committee. She also serves on the inaugural Google Retail Advisory Council.