In a strategic move to bolster Simpactful’s end-to-end eCommerce and channel capabilities, we are thrilled to announce the addition of two seasoned Retail channel experts to our team: We are celebrating the return of Kyle Gustafson and the arrival of Mike Kernish as Senior Consultants. These accomplished leaders bring decades of combined experience in scaling businesses, enhancing brand portfolios, and driving profitability within Fortune 100 companies and startups alike.
Kyle Gustafson: Pioneering eCommerce and Channel Growth
Kyle Gustafson returns to Simpactful with a track record of transformative leadership across Amazon, McLane, Office Depot, and Staples. He is recognized for his role in building teams, scaling brands, and developing innovative, retail.com, direct-to-consumer (DTC), and direct-to-store CPG fulfillment models that have redefined industry standards. During his most recent role at McLane, Kyle created the first eCommerce marketplace for emerging brands within the Convenience retail sector which unlocked new growth channels for underrepresented brands.
During his tenure at Amazon, Kyle led strategy for Amazon-owned brands in Europe where he focused on product selection, brand growth, and profit optimization. His strategic insight helped increase the efficiency of Amazon’s supply chain by 70% through automation and strategic partnerships. Kyle’s experience also includes merging Office Depot and Office Max’s private brand offerings, which consolidated a 20,000-product portfolio, increased market share, and reduced operational expenses by 35%.
Kyle’s extensive international experience and his expertise in pioneering eCommerce strategies provide Simpactful clients with a forward-looking perspective on multichannel impacts and revenue maximization. “I am excited to bring my experience in building dynamic, multi-channel business solutions to Simpactful, and I look forward to working with Simpactful clients again to address their most pressing challenges in eCommerce and retail innovation,” says Kyle.
Mike Kernish: Driving eCommerce Transformation and Operational Excellence
With over 20 years at Amazon and Procter & Gamble, Mike Kernish has built a reputation for driving sales, profit growth, and operational excellence in eCommerce, as well as excelling at CPG brand management. While at Amazon, he managed P&Ls exceeding $5 billion across B2B and B2C channels, holding pivotal roles such as GM for Amazon’s US Books division, Chief Marketing Officer for Amazon Canada, and GM of Amazon Business Public Sector.
Mike’s eCommerce expertise spans the full value chain, including retail buying, merchandising, pricing, supply chain, product innovation, and data analytics.
His complementary P&G experience in brand building and demand generation has shaped flagship brands, including Crest and Oral-B. His interest in retail began while transforming these brands within the North American club channel.
A graduate of Harvard Business School and Yale University, Mike brings both strategic and analytical rigor to Simpactful. His approach to eCommerce encompasses digital transformation strategies for both B2B and B2C, making him a valuable resource for clients aiming to accelerate online growth. “Joining Simpactful is an exciting opportunity to apply my experiences in eCommerce growth and digital transformation to help clients succeed in an evolving marketplace,” says Mike.
Expanding Simpactful’s Reach in eCommerce and Multichannel Solutions
John Torru, Simpactful Co-Founder and Chairperson, shared his excitement about the new additions: “The depth of knowledge and experience that Kyle and Mike bring is a game-changer for our clients. Kyle has led transformative work at retailers and dozens of consulting projects at Simpactful. Mike’s end-to-end eCommerce expertise position Simpactful at the forefront of helping companies navigate the complex, fast-paced world of digital commerce. These Retail capabilities add to our roster, which already includes eCommerce experts in Retailer Media, Logistics and Supply Chain Operations.”
With the addition of Kyle and Mike, Simpactful strengthens its ability to support clients in optimizing eCommerce operations, implementing effective channel strategies, and accelerating brand growth in a digitally driven landscape. Their backgrounds in managing expansive portfolios, navigating multi-channel distribution, and driving eCommerce innovations align with Simpactful’s commitment to delivering practical, impactful solutions that create measurable value.
Are you looking to strengthen your eCommerce and channel strategy? Simpactful can help! To learn more about Simpactful’s capabilities in eCommerce and channel strategy, or to speak with Kyle, Mike, or any of our team members, contact us at contact@simpactful.com or 925-234-6384.
Visit www.simpactful.com for more information on how we can help drive your business forward.
