WASHINGTON-Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, has been honored by the National Retail Federation with its Gold Medal for 2012.
The award is given annually to an individual who has achieved a national reputation for excellence and gained the respect of fellow retailers. NRF said in a statement, “Under Bezos’ leadership Amazon continues to re-invent both itself and entire industries.” Along with its online retailing business now encompassing a wide variety of products, “Amazon even empowers companies and governments in over 190 countries around the world with the leading cloud computing infrastructure through its Amazon Web Services offering,” the statement said.
In addition, NRF has named John McCarvel, president and CEO of Crocs Inc., as its Retail Innovator of the Year, an award which honors executives who use new, innovative or imaginative techniques, formats or services. The International Retailer of the Year award has been given Christine Day, CEO of lululemon athletica, for her efforts in developing and reinforcing lululemon’s position in the retailing of yoga-inspired women’s athletic apparel.
Also, Ken Bonning, senior executive vice president of logistics for Kohl’s, has been named the recipient of NRF’s Silver Plaque, for his work in the retailer’s logistics area and for his role as former chairman of NRF’s Strategic Supply Chain Council and his work in helping to launch the organization’s Global Supply Chain Summit in 2011.