THG Ingenuity names Gemma Spence as Chief Executive

THG Ingenuity has appointed Gemma Spence as Chief Executive Officer as part of a wider leadership reshuffle at the eCommerce technology business.

Spence will take up the role in December. She joins from VML and WPP Luxembourg, where she was Chief Executive Officer and Country Manager and led the group's Marketplace and Amazon Centre of Excellence. John Gallemore will become Chairman, while Alistair Crane will move into a Strategic Consultant role.

The appointment puts an experienced commerce executive at the head of a division THG says is entering its next stage of growth. THG Ingenuity operates across fulfilment, commerce technology and content production, combining software, automation and robotics for eCommerce clients.

Before joining THG Ingenuity, Spence spent more than 17 years in technology, commerce and growth roles. Her background spans both agency and client-side work, giving her experience in building and buying commerce solutions from both perspectives.

Earlier in her career, she founded and expanded an eCommerce consultancy across Europe, the Middle East and Africa within Omnicom, where she became one of the group's youngest Chief Executives. She has since worked with brands on marketplaces, retail media, data and technology.

Spence also brings a strong academic and industry profile. She holds an Executive MBA from the University of Oxford, awarded with distinction, and has received recognition from Aviva Women of the Future, Campaign's Hall of Fame, The Media Leader's Women of the Future and CIO Magazine's 35 Under 35.

Leadership changes

The management changes come as THG Ingenuity looks to strengthen its position in the competitive market for eCommerce infrastructure and operations. The business includes THG Fulfil, THG Commerce and THG Studios, spanning warehouse and delivery operations, online retail systems and content production.

THG Fulfil is the company's fulfilment system for global eCommerce, offered through software and robotics services. THG Commerce provides the technology behind digital shopping and marketplace sales, while THG Studios supplies creative and production services from in-house facilities.

THG argues that commerce is moving beyond connected systems towards more autonomous decision-making powered by artificial intelligence. That shift is shaping how eCommerce software and logistics providers position themselves, particularly as brands seek closer links between storefronts, stock control, fulfilment and customer service.

Spence said THG Ingenuity's speed of execution was a major attraction.

"Having spent 17+ years in this industry, what excites me the most is the exceptional talent, the operator-led capabilities and the speed of this organisation. Ideas move incredibly quickly from concept to scaled capability. By connecting these through a common decision layer, the opportunity is enormous. That's the future of commerce, and very few businesses are as well positioned to build and own it as THG Ingenuity," said Spence.

Her appointment also changes responsibilities for existing senior leaders. Gallemore, who is moving to Chairman, described the transition as part of the next stage in the company's development.

"THG Ingenuity was built to scale the world's most ambitious eCommerce businesses, using data-led technology, automation and robotics to solve the practical challenges of operating at scale. The next phase will be about making these platforms operate faster, smarter and more connected than ever. Gemma brings extensive experience of building commerce businesses, and a clear understanding of what brands need to grow. Her track record speaks for itself, and I'm confident she will lead THG Ingenuity in its next phase of growth," said Gallemore.

Sector backdrop

THG Ingenuity operates in a market where retailers and consumer brands are under pressure to improve margins while keeping pace with changing customer expectations. Providers that combine software with warehousing, delivery management and marketplace support are competing to become core partners for brands seeking fewer systems and simpler operations.

That backdrop helps explain the focus on leaders with experience across both consulting and operational roles. Spence's career has centred on marketplaces and digital commerce, areas that have grown in importance as brands spread sales across their own websites, online marketplaces and social platforms.

The final part of the leadership transition sees Crane take on an advisory remit focused on identifying commercial opportunities as the business develops its use of data, analytics and artificial intelligence.

"I look forward to continuing to work closely with THG Ingenuity, identifying new opportunities for the business and seeing how it develops even smarter solutions through data, analytics and AI," said Crane.