Robert Hetu is a Distinguished VP Analyst with the Enterprise Strategy and Transformation team. His responsibilities involve tracking the technology markets and trends impacting emerging technologies including AI, GenAI, and Agentic AI use cases and adoption in retail and across industries. The centerpiece of my coverage is on the future consumer industries and customer behavioral modeling. Mr. Hetu is an expert in the transformation of core solutions in the age of AI.
Prior to joining Gartner, Mr. Hetu's industry experience spans 28 years with leading retailers and manufacturers such as Macy's, VF Corp. and Kmart, as well as retail dot-com organizations in senior merchandising positions. As VP of Vendor Collaboration for Macy's, he was directly responsible for building stronger business relationships with key brands through use of technology and business process improvement focused on the areas of assortment management, replenishment, business intelligence and vendor performance scorecards. Previous experience includes extensive replenishment, planning and store management positions within Macy's and Kmart; general merchandise director for a dot-com company; as well as retail support and vendor-managed inventory with two major manufacturers.
Macy's Merchandising Group, VP - Vendor Collaboration, Replenishment & Size Analysis, 6 years
Pillowtex Corp., VP - Performance Improvement, 6 years
VF Corp., Retail Floor Space Management Team, 2 years
CIO and Executive Technology Leadership
Identify the Right AI Use Cases
Multi-Industry Technology Insights and Collections
AI Strategy and Business Transformation
B.S., Business Administration and Finance, Jacksonville State University
The future of consumer industries and the impact of agentic commerce on consumers, retailers and consumer goods companies.
Retail business and technology trends, predictions, hype cycle
AI, Gen AI and Agentic AI use cases, value measurement and maturity.
Core transformation in the age of AI
AI strategy development