Amazon’s director of consumables Patrick Pondaven has joined the supervisory board of GS1 UK, the supply chain and data standards organisation.
The online retail giant joins the board as the organisation seeks an industry-wide solution for managing product data, working with leading retailers and suppliers, GS1 UK said.
It will be the first time Amazon has been represented on the board and “recognises the company’s ongoing collaboration with GS1 to endorse unique identifiers as a way of improving data quality in the Amazon product catalogue,” the organisation said.
Pondaven has been at Amazon since 2009, as leader of the audio video department in Germany until 2011, then director of the consumer electronics division. In 2016, he moved to the UK and became director of consumables, including health & personal care, beauty, baby, pets, grocery, and beer, wine & spirits categories.
The supervisory board determines GS1 UK’s strategy, annual operating plan and budget. Other members include senior directors from Tesco, Sainsbury’s, Ocado, John Lewis, Unilever, and Nestlé, as well as the Department of Health.
“It’s great to be joining GS1 UK’s supervisory board at a time when so many small businesses are selling and growing their businesses on Amazon,” said Pondaven.
“GS1 standards have been used by Amazon for several years now as a way of identifying products we sell and supporting our drive to improve the quality of our data, helping us in turn to improve the customer’s experience,” he added. “GS1 has a vital role to play in supporting growth in retail and other sectors and I am keen to be part of GS1’s development as its proposition adapts to the digital age.”
Chairman of GS1 UK Jim Spittle said: “The retail landscape has changed dramatically in recent years, driven by the need for speed and convenience and the emergence of new channels.
“The traditional grocery shop has now become an online experience and has opened up to new players. And many SME brands are now choosing online marketplaces as their first route to market for their products, because they can get access to millions of consumers around the world, without the costs of developing their own website.
“Patrick’s energy and passion as a leader and his role at one of the great digital pioneers will be a great asset to our board. He will have an important role to play in developing our approach so that we can support simpler trading and borderless growth for our members.”
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