Simbe, a provider of shelf-scanning robots for retail environments, this month announced its inaugural Client Advisory Board, or CAB. The board aims to bring together retail leaders to inform product strategy, foster peer collaboration, and guide the future of shelf digitization.
“The CAB reflects our belief that the best innovation comes from partnership, not only with Simbe but also with industry peers,” said Benjamin Bond, senior vice president for strategy and client success at Simbe. “This forum ensures Simbe will continue to lead the industry in maximizing the value and impact for our clients.”
The CAB will complement Simbe’s Strategic Advisory Board. The group will share operational expertise, shape the company’s product roadmap, and strengthen cross-ecosystem collaboration to maximize impact across fleets and formats.
South San Francisco-based Simbe said it is in growth mode, actively building its installed base as retailers realize the value of accurate, near real-time stocking information. The company last month announced that Prime Markets is the first retailer in Saudi Arabia to use its autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in local stores.
In addition, Simbe won a 2024 RBR50 Robotics Innovation Award for its rollout at BJ’s Wholesale Club. The company recently marked its 10-year anniversary.
Meet Simbe’s CAB members
The board spans half a dozen sectors, from grocery and club to farm and home improvement. It also includes leaders with deep experience in store operations, technology, supply chain, and automation from some of the most innovative companies worldwide:
- Kim Anderson: vice president of store operations support at Schnuck Markets; a 40-year Schnucks veteran with leadership roles overseeing operations, workforce, maintenance, and inventory management
- Assia Cloran: district manager at Country Supplier; has more than 20 years of retail experience, with 12 years at Country Supplier leading multi-store operations, team development, and customer experience
- Nina Dedic: GenAI product lead at SPAR ICS; gained over 15 years of technology leadership with prior roles as CTO at Simplify Hospitality and head of core development at Wüstenrot Technology
- Nick DeSetto: director of assets and loss prevention at ShopRite Supermarkets; a 17-year Wakefern veteran with roles spanning operations, store management, and analytics
- Mandi Dyer: chief operating officer of Country Supplier; has more than 20 years with C-A-L Ranch and Coastal Farm & Ranch leading operations and technology innovation across over 50 stores
- Bruce Hatch: CIO at Harmons Grocery; has 20+ years of IT leadership across retail, software as a service (SaaS), and e-commerce, with expertise in enterprise systems, integrations, and AI-driven innovation
- Krystyna Kostka: chief supply chain officer at BJ’s Wholesale Club; with more than 20 years of leadership across operations and supply chain, overseeing end-to-end logistics and robotics innovation at BJ’s.
- Caroline Krieger: robotics and automation manager at BJ’s Wholesale Club; has spent six years at BJ’s leading robotics pilots, adoption, and process innovation, with earlier finance roles at TJX
- Adrian Salazar: director of workforce management at Schnuck Markets; an 18-year Schnucks veteran with leadership roles spanning merchandising, operations, and labor management
Industry veteran joins Simbe as executive advisor
In addition to the CAB, Simbe also announced retail strategist Thom Blischok as an executive advisor to the CEO and leadership team. A 40-year industry veteran, Blischok previously served as chief retail and consumer packaged goods (CPG) strategist at PwC. He also held senior global roles at Symphony IRI, Equifax, and Coopers & Lybrand.
“Retailers and CPG manufacturers are navigating hundreds of new technologies. Some will succeed, and many will not,” said Blischok. “Simbe is a proven, scalable platform with over a decade of performance and adoption. I’m excited to help shape how the industry capitalizes on intelligent automation.”
Save the date for the 2026 Robotics Summit
