Mindgruve, a modern media, commerce, and data technology company, has appointed Spencer Lian-Thornton as Vice President of Growth and Partnerships, effective January 2, 2026.
Lian-Thornton will drive accelerated growth, strengthen enterprise partnerships, and advance Mindgruve's position in retail media and commerce-driven marketing.
Lian-Thornton brings 12 years of experience from Amazon, where he developed and scaled strategies for major brands including Wrangler, Hanes, New Balance, and The Children's Place across retail, advertising, and supply chain operations. His work emphasized long-term brand success in enterprise apparel, footwear, and consumer sectors within the broader connected commerce environment.
"Retail media is transforming how brands grow, and Spencer brings a rare combination of platform expertise, strategic vision, and brand stewardship," said Chad Robley, CEO of Mindgruve. "Having spent more than a decade at Amazon during the rise of retail media, Spencer has been at the forefront of this evolution. He deeply understands how marketing, media, and commerce intersect—and how to help brands win in today's retail ecosystem."
Lian-Thornton's career progression from supply chain roles to advertising highlights the integration of marketing performance with retail growth outcomes and durable partnership building.
"I've always believed the best marketing feels like advice from a trusted friend, and to deliver, you need a trusted agency," said Lian-Thornton. "For nearly a decade, I had Mindgruve on my radar and recommended the agency to clients because they were early leaders in retail media, delivered real results, and built trusted partnerships—not transactional engagements. That philosophy has only become more important as retail media evolves."
In his new position, Lian-Thornton will prioritize executive-level relationships with major retail media networks and technology partners, expand the enterprise client base, and enhance client loyalty. He will represent Mindgruve at prominent events including CES and NRF in January, along with other leading commerce conferences throughout the year.
This appointment reinforces Mindgruve's commitment to data-driven solutions at the intersection of media, commerce, and technology, positioning the agency to capitalize on the ongoing transformation in retail media landscapes.
About Mindgruve
Mindgruve is a modern media, commerce, and data technology company comprised of strategists, creatives, media and commerce experts, data scientists, and engineers driven by one common purpose — accelerate business growth for our brand partners through data-driven marketing. With over 400 experts worldwide, Mindgruve's teams deliver integrated media and commerce solutions for global brands.
TechIntelPro empowers B2B technology decision-makers with the latest industry trends, deep insights, leadership perspectives and actionable intelligence to drive both organizational and professional milestones—and thrive on the tech pulse.