Experience does matter. With the average Retail Service provider being in business less than 15 years, it’s assuring to know that with SPAR, your merchandising business is being run by people who’ve been doing this for longer than many of our competitors have even been in business.
Leadership
Overview
Mike Matacunas
President and Chief Executive Officer
Mike is responsible for setting strategy and leading the global organization of more than 25,000 merchandisers across 9 countries and 5 continents.
He brings more than 30 years of retail, services, technology and leadership experience to the business and a track record of driving growth, increasing profitability and creating shareholder value.
As a proven Fortune 150 retail executive and strategic leader, Mike has a deep, practical understanding of the day-to-day issues facing SPAR’s retail, consumer goods and distribution clients. He has also been recognized as a successful entrepreneur, technology executive and thought leader who has been quoted and published across media platforms and is sought after for speaking at industry events around the world.
Prior to joining SPAR, Mike served as the Chief Administrative Officer for Dollar Tree and Family Dollar Stores, Chief Executive Officer for The Parker Avery Group, Vice President, Strategy and Operations at Manhattan Associates and Vice President, Product & Operations and Managing Director, Europe for Evant. He serves on a number of charitable organization boards and when he is not spending time with his wife of 25 years and three children, he can be found on the tennis court.
Kori Belzer
Global Chief Operating Officer
Kori serves as the Global Chief Operating Officer of SPAR Group, Inc. Prior to that she served as the Chief Operating Officer since 2004, having been with the company since 1992.
Throughout her years at SPAR, she has been instrumental to the growth and success of the business. Kori has been a leader in the areas of Client Service, Field Operations and Sales & Marketing, providing a high level of focus on strategic client relationships to drive success and growth for all customers. She has streamlined processes and developed efficiencies that allow the company to focus on the needs and growth of its customers. Throughout her career at SPAR, she has led the successful integration of multiple acquisitions domestically and internationally that have provided SPAR’s customers with increased services and added value.
As Global Chief Operating Officer, she is responsible for creating global synergies, processes and driving operating efficiencies that improve individual country performance that provide the highest levels of customer experience and results to our clients worldwide.
To SPAR’s clients, Kori is a pillar of confidence that their business is being executed to the highest standards and providing maximum return on investment.
Kori is a graduate of the University of Kansas and is an avid sports fan with a particular focus on Jayhawks basketball.
Ron Lutz
Chief Global Commercial Officer
Ron leads SPAR’s global business development, and is responsible for global branding and marketing, as well as the business in Japan and Canada.
Ron has built a 35-year executive career guiding Fortune 100 companies and private organizations in the retail customer experience space. He led organizations through transformational growth, business solution strategies, brand and market expansion. Throughout his career Ron has held executive responsibilities in the areas of business development, experience design, strategic growth, marketing, omni-channel deployment, international expansion, and acquisitions. He has a track record of developing solutions from strategy to execution which delivered increased customer engagement, strategic relationships, and improved profitability.
Prior to joining SPAR, Ron was consulting as an International strategic retail advisor working with organizations in Japan developing customer experience strategies. Previously, he served as the Chief Client Officer at Miller Zell, a leading retail services and solutions company; responsible for business development, marketing, digital solutions, and project management. Earlier in his career, Ron served as a Vice President with Lowe’s Companies, where he led the deployment of an omni-channel customer experience solution across 2,000+ North American retail store locations. In addition, he had responsibility for new store deployment in emerging markets, and store renovations across US, Canada, and Mexico.
Ron has been published in numerous industry media platforms and has enjoyed the opportunity to provide insights as an international speaker. He currently serves on several industry and organizational boards.
When out of the office, he is an avid reader, focused on fitness, enjoys golf, a wine enthusiast, and a proud grandfather to five boys.
Fay Devriese
Chief Financial Officer
Fay DeVriese serves as the Chief Financial Officer, Treasurer and Secretary of SPAR Group, Inc., as of August 2020.
As CFO, Fay is responsible for all aspects of financial reporting worldwide of SPAR Group, Inc. She is directly responsible for the company’s consolidation financial, tax and SEC reporting, Sarbanes Oxley compliance, banking and investor relations, strategic direction and M&A activities.
Prior to joining SPAR, Fay served as Chief Finance Officer at Letica Corporation and has served in various global financial leadership roles at DSM Engineering Plastics, Eaton Corporation, Continental Automotive Systems and Motorola. Fay is a CPA licensed in the State of New York and earned her Bachelor’s of Science degree from the State University of New York at Albany.
When she is not working, Fay can usually be seen at the local high school or university pools cheering her daughter on who is a competitive swimmer. Fay also enjoys reading and travelling with her family in her spare time.
William Linnane
Chief Strategy and Growth Officer
William leads group strategy and is responsible for developing new markets, acquisitions, expanding global programs, executing the technology strategy, and growing the Great Openings and Assembly businesses.
William has, over his 25-year career, highly relevant US and International experience. He has successfully delivered shareholder value by leading strategic change, driving operational excellence, and growing the top line across different businesses and markets. He has held leadership positions in iconic and well-known retailers, including Tesco in the UK and Ireland, and Sears and Kmart in the US; with accountabilities in the areas of Strategy, Merchandising, Finance, M&A, Vendor management and negotiation, Operations, Inventory management, Marketing, Digital, Data, and International markets.
Most recently, William was the CEO of a successful advisory and investment firm focused on M&A and retail restructurings. Prior to that, Mr. Linnane was President of Kmart’s Pharmacy, Drugstore and Grocery businesses in the U.S. and Puerto Rico, Chief Merchant at a leading book retailer in Europe, and led the Beverage, Candy and Snacks business for Tesco in the UK, working with Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Nestle, Mars, Mondelez and others to drive branded growth opportunities via merchandising and other initiatives, including digital strategies. Mr. Linnane is a qualified accountant and started his career in finance working in the UK and Ireland at Kingfisher PLC and Tesco PLC. Mr. Linnane holds an MA in Economics from Trinity College, University of Dublin.
When out of the office, he loves to read, and to spend time with his wife and three daughters.
Husam Mufti
Chief Information Officer
Husam joined SPAR Group in 2000 as a Software Developer and in 2019 was promoted to Chief Information Officer.
Husam has been a part of SPAR’s digital journey in different capacities. During which, he led multiple IT teams through different initiatives to design, streamline, and modernize the overall systems’ capabilities and efficiencies. Husam’s leadership and dedication have been a cornerstone of SPAR’s global expansion over the past two decades, including North America, and Asia-Pacific. As Chief Information Officer, Husam is responsible for advancing SPAR’s digital strategy and enhancing SPAR’s global market leadership.
Husam graduated Magna Cum Laude with a degree in Electrical Engineering from SUNY New Paltz.
In his spare time, Husam enjoys the outdoors and traveling. He is also a fitness enthusiast and enjoys learning about emerging technologies.
