Demos Parneros

Founder | Advisor | Investor | Board Member

2018 - Current

Invested in 15 startup and growth companies in retail tech, the future of shopping, and omnichannel experience. Work with Private Equity firms to evaluate deals, perform due diligence, and develop strategic turnaround plans. • Member, Board of Directors, Wealthramp (2020–Present), a fintech start-up matching clients to financial advisors. • Member, Board of Advisors, Bitreel (2021–Present), an augmented reality company for 3D shopping online. • Provided consulting services to Modell’s Sporting Goods to develop and implement strategies for revenue growth, operational enhancements, and profit improvement.

Advisory Board Member

2021

Board Member

2020

Member Of The Board Of Advisors

2012 - 2019

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) | Member of the Board of Directors

2016 - 2018

Recruited to lead and turnaround all operations of the 20,000-employee company, with full P&L responsibility across 635 retail stores, the e-Commerce business, a digital download business, and a Publishing division. As CEO, quickly developed and implemented a strategic turnaround plan to address declining sales, profits, and market share. Revamped the management team, adding 15 high-performing executives to key positions, and improved collaboration and cross-functional teamwork to support overall business simplification and efficiency. • Reversed multi-year trend of negative sales trends by implementing new merchandising and omnichannel plans. • Established an aggressive yet achievable $150M expense reduction plan to allow for investment in sales driving and marketing plans. • Led team to design and roll out a smaller, updated, more productive store prototype with state-of-the-art omnichannel features. • Initiated coordination between retail, online and digital channels to create a seamless customer experience. • Introduced succession planning, diversity and inclusion initiatives and overall talent management discipline to support future growth and improve employee morale. These decisive actions and clear leadership stabilized the company's financial health and returned it to growth, which led to the eventual sale of the company.

Board Member

2014 - 2018

President, North American Stores and Online

2012 - 2016

As President of North American Stores & Online at Staples, the office products retailer was progressively promoted over 28 years. Led the retail and e-commerce reinvention plan that included developing flexible, higher-profit store formats, creating new services through internal innovation, launching new categories, and investing in marketing, merchandising, and customer service programs. Responsible for $11B in sales, 1,800 stores, and 55,000 employees. Served as President, US Stores (2002–2007) and President, US Retail (2007–2012), responsible for national store operations, merchandising, marketing, distribution, and real estate. Was General Manager of the chain’s first New York City store in 1987. Member of Staples Executive Committee, responsible for developing short-term and three- to five-year strategic plans. Led retail and e-commerce reinvention plan to include building flexible store formats, creating new services through internal innovation, launching new categories, and investing in marketing, merchandising, and customer service programs. • Drove major restructuring and transformation of the $8B retail business despite declining sales. Closed underperforming stores, optimized the labor model and reduced non-critical spend. Increased overall profitability. • Installed a new team to rebuild all digital properties, including mobile web, Staples app and staples.com to support growth of $3B online business. Generated significant improvement in conversion, customer experience and omnichannel capabilities resulting in more engaged customers who spent 2-3X more given omni channel options. • Maintained leading position in the Canadian market through strong merchandising and marketing programs, resulting in record market share and company-leading operating margins.

President - US Retail

2007 - 2012

Promoted to a more expansive role with increased functional responsibility for merchandising, marketing, distribution, and real estate. • Navigated team through the financial crisis of 2008, implementing a $150M cost reduction program that stabilized and enabled the business to maintain industry-leading profitability. • Built and executed innovative customer service programs, improving customer satisfaction from 55% to 75% over five years. • Increased investments and grew high-margin services businesses to >10% of sales, including doubling the copy and print category and creating a $100M technology store and on-premise services offering. • Launched dozens of new categories to offset declines in legacy office supplies categories.

President - US Stores

2002 - 2007

Accelerated growth through new store openings, format enhancements, relocations, and introducing new product categories. • Developed a flexible portfolio of store formats, from 4k to 18k square feet, to optimize sales and margins. • Drove inventory management initiatives to reduce inventory per store, drive faster turns, and increase customer-facing in-stock levels. Implemented new organizational structure and programs to dramatically reduce shrink.

Senior Vice President - Mid-Atlantic Operations

1999 - 2002

Full P&L responsibility across 260 stores in 10 states, with annual sales of $1.5B+.

Earlier positions with Staples,

1987 - 1999

Promoted through multiple field management roles, including: General Manager of Staples’ first New York City store in 1987; Regional HR Manager; District Manager; Director of Operations; Director of Marketing & Merchandising; Director of Sales & Merchandising; and Regional Vice President - Store Operations.

Group Manager

1983 - 1987

Completed Macy's executive training program and steadily promoted from Sales Manager to Assistant Buyer to Group Manager, managing a cross-functional 100-member group.