CHICAGO — Circana, an advisor on the complexity of consumer behavior, named Stuart Aitken president and CEO, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Aitken will succeed Kirk Perry, who is retiring but will remain a member of the board.
“As part of the company’s succession planning process, Kirk and the rest of the Circana board have been focused on identifying the ideal candidate to lead Circana well into the future, and we are confident we have found that in Stuart,” said Tod Johnson, chair of the Circana board. “His passionate leadership, strategic and innovative mindset, and extensive experience across the retail, technology, and data/analytics industries will create value for our company, our people and the clients we serve globally.”
Previously, Aitken served as chief merchant and marketing officer for Kroger where he helped transform the company with a strong focus on people and culture, data and insights, and shopper transformation. He also developed a customer-centric approach to merchandising and marketing to drive high-margin digital revenue streams.
“As part of the company’s succession planning process, Kirk and the rest of the Circana board have been focused on identifying the ideal candidate to lead Circana well into the future, and we are confident we have found that in Stuart.” — Tod Johnson | board chair | Circana
“I am grateful for the opportunity to join the Circana team and work together with colleagues across the globe to build upon Circana’s position as an industry leader,” Aitken said. “As a longtime partner to Circana, I have a deep appreciation for the power of its platform and critical role Circana plays across the consumer ecosystem. With best-in-class technology, data and expertise, Circana will drive growth and innovation across a wide breadth of global clients and industries.”
Aitken will also join Perry on the board as a director.
“It has been a true honor to lead this organization through a transformative period in its history,” Perry said. “I am proud of the remarkable progress we made over the past four years, and forever grateful to our talented teams, clients and partners that made Circana what it is today. I am confident that Stuart is the right leader for Circana’s next stage of growth, and I look forward to working closely with him alongside the rest of our distinguished board members.”
