Extended Senior Role for Circana's Ian Hamilton

Retail data giant Circana has promoted Ian Hamilton to President of General Merchandise, expanding his current role and effective immediately. Former President of General Merchandise Joanne Sackett, who joined The NPD Group in 2005, will leave at the end of the month to pursue new opportunities.

Circana resulted from the merger in 2022 of global consumer data firms IRI and The NPD Group. The company's core platform is the long-established former IRI product LiquidData, recently enhanced with the additions of LiquidAI and a smaller client option, Liquid Data Go.

Hamilton (pictured) has been with IRI and Circana for eighteen years in total, and began leading IRI's Technology sector in 2014. The unit added coverage of Home and Office Supplies, and later Automotive, and was renamed the Hardlines sector in 2024. Hamilton led it through the development of solutions such as Technology industry Forecasting, AI PC analytics, and B2B Technology receipt analytics, and has also played a key role in developing the tech business in Asia, and in readying the launch of Tech and Home industry services in Europe next year. He holds a Masters in Entrepreneurship from San Diego State University.

In his newly expanded role, he will oversee all General Merchandise operations and drive strategic initiatives to strengthen the company's market position and maximise value for clients across multiple sectors.

CEO Stuart Aitken says of the appointment: 'Ian has consistently demonstrated outstanding leadership, strategic vision, and an unwavering commitment to excellence throughout his nearly two decades with NPD and Circana. His deep understanding of our clients' needs, combined with his proven track record of driving growth and innovation, makes him the ideal leader to guide our general merchandise division into its next phase of expansion.'

He adds: 'We're deeply grateful [to Joanne Sackett] for her leadership through major transformations and wish her the best in her new chapter.'

The firm is online at www.circana.com .