THE LEAD ANNOUNCES THE DIRECT 60 LIST OF 2025:
TOP EXECUTIVES MASTERING THE BUSINESS OF BRANDS

New York, September 3, 2025 – Today, The Lead announces their fifth annual The Direct 60 List. The Direct 60 List recognizes executives redefining the go-to-market strategies for the world’s most iconic brands. Leveraging technology, digital innovation, and next-generation strategies, these leaders drive growth and position their brands for success in a highly-dynamic, consumer-centric, data-driven world. 

The Direct 60 List Honorees respond to evolving market conditions by effectively leveraging technology and restructuring business practices. They deploy a combination of initiatives to meet the brand’s growth objectives: strategic investments in technology; advancing brand relevance and appeal (with existing and new customer segments); developing new products (or categories); effectively meeting customer expectations or needs; spotting and mastering innovation trends; creating delightful, unique and optimized customer experiences; achieving agile, customer-centric, and data-driven organizations. 

“In 2025, business leaders face an uncertain economic climate, a fickle consumer with rapidly shifting shopping behavior, and the critical existential need to stay ahead of the AI adoption curve. The executives on our Direct 60 list are running the business of their brands with a steady hand. They have often joined companies during periods of significant change, restructuring, or growth, and have been key in addressing challenges like market volatility, competitive landscapes, or brand revival. They are very optimistic about the future new AI-based technologies will enable, however remain steadfast in their belief that human connection and story telling is what makes great brands thrive in the long term.” said Sonal Gandhi, Chief Content Officer at The Lead. 

The 2025 Direct 60 List honorees are:

  • Shirley Gao, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Pacsun
  • Anne-Sophie Clément, SVP Ecommerce, Digital Development, CRM US & North America, Clarins Group
  • Tracy Bay, EVP, Head of Ecommerce (J.Crew & J.Crew Factory), J.Crew Group
  • Kristin DiCunzolo, SVP, Direct, Marketing, & Marketplace Business, Wacoal America
  • Rene Federico, Head of Marketing – US, Primark
  • Michele Azar, Chief Product Officer, Gap Inc
  • Justin Juschka, VP, Product & Portfolio Management, lululemon
  • Richard McLeod, CMO, Merrell
  • Kimberly Miller Olko, Global CMO Toys”R”Us, President of Toys”R”Us Studios, WHP Global
  • Trang To, VP, Digital, Tapestry
  • Stuart Hogue, SVP, US Consumer, Lands’ End
  • Tyler Rutstein, SVP, Global Brand & Americas Marketing, Under Armour
  • Ricardo Lajoie, Global Chief Merchant, Vans
  • Kat Kim, SVP, Ecommerce & Marketing, Vince
  • Dan Manioci, VP, Global Consumer Engagement & Digital Marketing, Parlux
  • Colleen Waters, VP, Ecommerce, Steven Madden, Ltd.
  • Kim Audan, SVP, Ecommerce, David Yurman
  • Jennifer Avallon, Head of Global Product Management, SVP, TUMI
  • Sunny Jiang, CEO & President, EyeBuyDirect
  • Lynn Flynn, EVP, Fashion Brands, WHP Global
  • Ben Jata, Global VP, Digital Ops, Authentic Brands Group
  • Neha Kovach, Global Head, Omnichannel CRM, CX, Clienteling, & Data Insights, David Yurman
  • Erica Imbrecht, VP, Marketing, goop
  • Kyle Sweeney, SVP, Design & Merchandising, rag & bone
  • Nick Hasselberg, VP, Growth Marketing & Ecommerce, Every Man Jack
  • David Cost, VP, Digital & Ecommerce, Rainbow Shops
  • Jillian Gorman, Head of Customer Experience, Samsung Electronics America
  • Kiera Ganann, SVP, Global GM Ralph Lauren Brands, Delta Galil
  • April Guidone, COO, SMAC Entertainment
  • Kaitlin Hutchinson, SVP, Ecommerce, Authentic Brands Group
  • Patrick Buchanan, SVP, Marketing, Lulus
  • Kristi Carlson, VP, Digital Technology, Kendra Scott
  • Laura Cantor, VP, Marketing, New York & Company
  • Manuel Neto, VP, Global Analytics, Capri Holdings
  • Jon Harding, CIO, Conair LLC
  • Leyla Babaoglu, VP, Business Strategy, Tommy Hilfiger
  • Megan Maquera, VP, Digital, ASSOULINE
  • Rob Long, CMO, KITS
  • Alexandra Alessi, VP, Brand.com, OLAPLEX
  • Jessica Schneider, VP, Strategic Partnerships & Business Development, French Connection
  • Anouar Alami, VP/GM, Global Licensing, Tory Burch
  • Scott Kramer, VP, Growth Marketing, AS Beauty
  • Kevin Ramstack, VP, DTC, Club Monaco
  • Neal Cotter, VP, Customer Marketing & Analytics, Torrid
  • Andy Trojan, VP, Demand & Supply, Ariat
  • Kelly Warkentien, VP, Creative Director, Wolverine Worldwide
  • Dan Michel, VP, Creative, UNTUCKit
  • Jessica Steele, VP, Retail Sales & Marketing, Alexis Bittar
  • Maritza Mejia, VP, Operations, BaubleBar
  • Lakshmi Pappu, VP, Data & Innovation, E.L.F. Beauty
  • Andrew Wright, President, Americas, Manolo Blahnik
  • Andrew Stanleick, President, Skin Health & Beauty, Kenvue
  • Lauren Shaw, VP, Ecommerce, Marketing & Digital, Windsong Global
  • Rochelle Jacobs, Managing Director, Peter Thomas Roth
  • Peter Pernot-Day, Head of Strategic & Corporate Affairs for North America, UK, & Europe, SHEIN
  • Christina Monkman, Head of Ecommerce, IKEA US
  • Brett Bone, VP, Strategic Planning, Simple Modern
  • Masako Konishi, EVP, Merchandising & Buying, Alo Yoga
  • Marybeth Mahoney Cahill, Chief Merchandising Officer, Urban Outfitters
  • Janice Greenwood, SVP/GMM, Pottery Barn Digital & Ecommerce, Williams-Sonoma


The Direct 60 List Honorees will be recognized in person at The Direct 60 Forum on October 23rd in New York City. In its fifth year, The Direct 60 Forum is a by-invitation, intimate gathering, for senior brand leaders. Designed for curated networking, meaningful content, and elevated experiences, The Direct 60 Forum is where industry leaders come to shape what’s next.

The Direct 60 List is presented in partnership with EMARKETER.

ABOUT THE LEAD

The Lead is a media and events company that helps brands compete in an increasingly digital and direct selling environment by introducing future business trends, presenting winning strategies, and connecting brands with the right technologies. The Lead showcases actionable insights across marketing, ecommerce, stores, customer experience and last mile for brands selling direct.

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Press Contact: nisha@the-lead.co