Barrows Connected Store announced the appointment of James Hay as Global Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. The leadership change comes as retail media networks rapidly evolve from experimental revenue channels into core profit drivers, with global spend projected to surpass $130 billion by 2028.
Hay will oversee Barrows Connected Store's operations across the UK, United States, and South Africa, advancing the company's platform that transforms physical stores into intelligent media networks. The
company partners with major retailers including Tesco and Kroger to enable brands to deploy targeted digital campaigns at the point of purchase, where approximately 85% of global retail sales still occur.
"James is a natural leader and one of the most trusted operators in our business," said Brent Taylor, Executive Chairman of Barrows Connected Store . "He has been instrumental in shaping Barrows Connected Store from its early days into the global platform it is today.
His deep understanding of retailers, brands, and shoppers combined with his ability to lead with clarity, empathy, and conviction, makes him uniquely suited to lead our next phase of growth.
I could not be more excited to see James step into the role of Global CEO." Hay brings extensive leadership experience at Barrows, having led the UK and European business as Managing Director before serving as Global Managing Director…
