Jaap van Riel

Award-winning CIO | CTO | CDO | Digital & AI Innovation | Business Transformation | Private Equity | Retail | Consumer Products

Boston, Massachusetts, United States

About

Award-winning CIO/CTO/CDO with extensive international experience leading digital, data, and AI transformations in global retail and consumer brands. Proven track record to scale organizations, drive-innovation, and deliver measurable business value. Recognized for building high-performing teams and cultures, driving innovation, and executing complex integrations across multi-brand portfolios.

Experience

  • Chief Technology Officer at KnitWell Group
    Aug 2023 - Present · 3 yrs

    KnitWell Group is one of the largest specialty apparel companies in the US, operating iconic American apparel brands Ann Taylor, Chico's, Haven Well Within, Lane Bryant, LOFT, Soma, Talbots, WHBM (White House Black Market). KnitWell Group serves 20 million customers, both online and in their ~3000 stores. Leading all aspects of Technology. Driving the Digital & Data Transformation and Technology & AI Innovation agenda across all brands and channels.

  • Member of the Board of Advisors at Ometria
    Apr 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 4 mos

    Ometria’s ATLAS is an agentic intelligence layer that transforms existing data warehouses into predictive, actionable insights—delivering enterprise value in hours, not months, without requiring platform replacement.

  • Member of the Board of Advisors at S5 Stratos
    Oct 2025 - Present · 10 mos

    S5 Stratos is an AI-powered retail intelligence platform that enables faster and better decision-making across assortment & merchandising, inventory, and financial planning.

  • SVP & Chief Information Officer at Talbots
    Jul 2018 - Aug 2023 · 5 yrs 2 mos

  • Vice President - Information Technology at Tiffany & Co.
    Jan 2016 - Jun 2018 · 2 yrs 6 mos