Top Shelf International (ASX:TSI) is pleased to share that it has appointed Steve Hibberd, most recently co-founder and CEO of Tiger Pistol Group, to lead a portfolio approach to developing the technology strategy for the company.
Mr Hibberd has commenced with an initial focus on leveraging and digital technologies to help build deeper relationships with TSI’s retail partners to better target our portfolio and increase velocity and further enhance the company’s direct to consumer model as we build out master distillery offerings.
Having developed companies in Australia, across APAC and most recently in the U.S., all focused on solving problems and opening up new markets at scale using technology, Mr Hibberd brings a wealth of experience to support TSI’s vision.
His experience working closely with global technology and data leaders such as Facebook and Google, as well as being amongst a community of early innovators, will deliver insights in support of TSI’s ambitions to be a digital leader in the category.
Today’s announcement follows this week’s Global Food Forum in Sydney where industry leaders, including TSI Executive Chairman Adem Karafili, met to discuss a number of key issues, one of which was the innovation opportunity for digitisation and data to play a critical role in value-adding and leveraging trade opportunities.
The effective use of existing and emerging technologies is at the core of the TSI’s plans for delivering growth, differentiation in the marketplace and ultimately value for shareholders. This will be particularly relevant to our Australian Agave Project, where there is an opportunity to leverage our Agriculture Technology including use of drones, to select and geo-code a plant, watch it grow, tailor your production and maturation choices, to have your very own one of a kind world class Australian Agave spirit. All bought together with a smart contract on a block chain platform.
Steve Hibberd said: “I couldn’t be more excited to join this talented and ambitious team with an already outstanding product portfolio focused on a large global market opportunity. TSI’s genuine mission of uniquely connecting customers and consumers with its premium spirit brands of Australian provenance is infectious.”
“With this in mind, the critical importance of first party data today for any customer centric organisation, combined with the vertically integrated nature of the business, presents a big opportunity to leverage emerging software as well as technologies such as blockchain, robotics and more.”
