Author Archive for: Bill Brand

Bill Brand is a recognized retail transformer whose visionary leadership has accelerated growth at major national retailers.   Brand’s expertise across marketing, merchandising and operations, omni-channel development and in energizing teams to create unique experiences positions retailers for leading market positions.

In November of 2020, Brand was named CEO of rue21, a ‘trend right’, fashion retailer with nearly 700 stores in 45 states and millions of social followers.  The rue21 vision is to deliver “Affordable Fashion, Accessible to All.”  The privately-held retailer tapped Brand to lead the company’s evolution in becoming a strong customer-centric, omni-channel retailer.

Prior to rue21, Brand was Chief Retail Officer for Carnival Corporation where he worked across 9 cruise lines around the world to reimagine the travel retail sector.   As former president of HSN and chief marketing officer of HSNi he is respected for galvanizing and driving results-focused teams.   Brand transformed the TV shopping business to a true omni-channel experience that positioned HSN as a top 10 digital commerce company.  Brand enhanced customer connections by delivering compelling content to create a “halo effect'' around brands.  Through strategic partnerships with Hollywood studios like Disney and A-list celebrities, he challenged his teams to deliver attention-grabbing and relatable experiences to amplify the brand and accelerate sales.   To further develop customer relationships and employee engagement, he launched employee-led initiatives that raised over millions for charities.

A storyteller at his core, Brand launched his executive career leading programming and production teams at Lifetime Television and VH1.   He began his career in local news production, working throughout the U.S.

Brand serves on several boards: including Habitat for Humanity International, The Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation and GRMA.