DENVER, May 27, 2021 – PRESS RELEASE – GrowGeneration Corp., the nation’s largest chain of specialty hydroponic and organic garden centers, today announced the appointment of Paul Rutenis as chief merchant officer (CMO), effective June 21, 2021.
Rutenis’ two-decade career in retail spans management positions at several large public companies, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, West Marine, JC Penney and RadioShack. Rutenis received his bachelor’s degree from Clemson University and holds an Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the University of St. Louis.
“We’re pleased to bring a seasoned merchandising executive of Paul’s caliber to the GrowGeneration team,” GrowGen CEO Darren Lampert said. “Paul has years of experience leading retail and merchandising strategy for some of the nation’s largest retail chains. His insights will be invaluable as GrowGen continues to scale and build a national chain of hydroponic garden centers and best-in-class private-label brands.”
Rutenis served as executive vice president at West Marine from 2015-2018, where he helped grow the top and bottom line by successfully moving the company to an omnichannel format that enhanced the company’s brick-and-mortar format. At Dick’s Sporting Goods, from 2006 to 2011, he helped drive sales and gross margin expansion in private label and branded products.
“I'm honored to join GrowGeneration’s leadership team at this time of record growth and expansion,” Rutenis said. “GrowGen is uniquely positioned in one of the most exciting and dynamic emerging industries in the country, and I look forward to helping build GrowGen’s national brand and portfolio of private-label products.”
