Secret Sales appoints new CTO to accelerate marketplace platform
Leon Sheppard joins Secret Sales from Ted Baker, where he was chief information officer and Digital Strategy director
Secret Sales, the non-full price marketplace for fashion, sportswear and beauty brands, has appointed Leon Shepherd as its new chief technology officer.
The appointment comes as the business prepares to “invest heavily” in its technology offerings in line with its aggressive global growth agenda.
Shepherd has previously worked for brands such as Jack Wills, Fat Face, Marks and Spencer, and over nine years at Vodafone leading advanced mobile technology engineering.
He joins Secret Sales from Ted Baker, where he was chief information officer and Digital Strategy director. In his new role as CTO of Secret Sales, Shepherd will be responsible for enhancing the company’s integrated technology stack to deliver a “seamless next-generation marketplace platform for brands, retailers, and consumers”.
The company said that by leveraging “his deep understanding of the retail landscape and employing an unrivalled brand mindset”, Shepherd will take a hands-on role in optimising Secret Sales’ digital experience.
It added his expertise will advance the company’s use of industry-leading technology, including making the most of its dynamic forecasting tools which help brands accelerate the sales and margins from their seasonal surplus stock.
This role will also see Shepherd lead the implementation of Secret Sales’ new website, using Progressive Web App (PWA) technologies.
Secret Sales’ PWA will allow online and offline navigation by caching and storing parts of the data displayed in the site, delivering vastly enhanced user experience that is several times faster than most platforms.
Chris Griffin, CEO, said: “Technology is at the heart of what we do and plays a critical role in driving efficiencies and profitability for brands and retailers on our marketplace. So, we’re really pleased to have Leon here, taking the next step in his career with us, and accelerating our technology investment.
“Leon’s worked in almost every kind of role in tech, and with some of the biggest in the business, and his unique perspective on the industry will be invaluable as we continue to make huge leaps both in the UK and internationally.”
Shepherd added: “Joining Secret Sales is a real opportunity for me to help build an industry game-changing technology platform. What the team has already done is so revolutionary, and I’m looking forward to taking it to yet another level by implementing PWA, and further industry-leading technologies for the business across Europe.
“The leadership has such a great appreciation and understanding of the importance of technology, every single person in the business is passionate about helping the business grow, and I’m eager to take this opportunity with both hands and run with it.”
