Meet Andy Ruben

Andy Ruben is a Founder, CEO, Board Chair & Advisor, Lead Independent Director, and C-Suite Executive with 25+ years of experience in retail and consumer brands.

 As Walmart’s (NYSE:WMT) first Chief Sustainability Officer, Andy integrated sustainability with strategy and operations, garnering global recognition for Walmart and promulgating sustainability to the boardrooms of the Fortune 500. He spearheaded other transformational efforts at Walmart, including reimagining and repositioning Walmart’s $20B+ private brand business. Andy led corporate and eCommerce strategy, overseeing the company's omnichannel businesses and the launch of grocery delivery.

Andy founded VC-funded startup Trove in 2012 (Series E). In 2017, he pioneered the Brand Resale category with the launch of Patagonia’s Worn Wear. While at Trove, Andy worked closely with executives at some of the foremost global brands including Levi’s, REI, Patagonia, lululemon, Canada Goose, Gucci, Carhartt, and ON Running to envision and launch their resale channels. Resale has since become the fastest growing segment of retail globally. 

Trove earned a spot on Inc. Magazine’s fastest-growing private companies and was recognized on both Fast Company’s and Fortune’s Most Innovative Companies lists. 

Andy currently serves as a Senior Advisor to the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) and an advisor to Earthshot Ventures, Emerson Collective’s early-stage Venture Fund. He has served on the Zevia (NYSE:ZVIA) board since 2020, presently as the Lead Independent Director and chair of the ESG Committee. In recognition of his broad engagement in the retail and investment sectors, Andy was a member of Cerberus Capital Management’s Competitiveness Council from 2017 until June of 2024.

A TED speaker, Andy has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, and in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and Forbes Magazine. He has testified before the US Senate and the House of Representatives as an expert in business and sustainability and is a frequent speaker on the future of retail, circularity and sustainability. Andy received Walmart’s most prestigious annual award, the Sam M. Walton Entrepreneur of the Year in 2008, as well as Chain Store Age’s Retail Rising Star and Arkansas Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 awards.