Derek Ryder

Visionary
DISC Type : Ds

Head of Engineering - Marketing Technology & Customer Data at Catalyst Brands LLC

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

Overview

Derek Ryder is a technology executive with over 25 years of experience leading engineering teams in marketing technology, digital transformation, and e-commerce for major retailers like JCPenney and Best Buy. He holds a B. Sc. from the University of Manitoba. People who have worked with him describe him as a thoughtful, caring, and empathetic leader.

At Best Buy, Derek led the engineering portfolio for the companys most critical eCommerce platform, a custom-built engine that successfully processed over a billion requests per day.

Personality Overview

Goal-Oriented

Objective Evaluator

Early Adopter

They might take some time to make their mind up but once they do, they don't change it easily.  Reading between the lines and seeing beyond your words comes naturally to them. They are very professional in their approach and can weigh multiple perspectives together.

Topics They Care About

Marketing & Customer Data
His current role as Head of Engineering at Catalyst Brands is focused on leading the marketing technology and customer data platforms.
Digital Transformation
He has a proven track record of spearheading strategic turnarounds and modernizing technology roadmaps at large enterprises like JCPenney.
E-commerce Scalability
He managed the web-scale platform for Best Buy's core browsing experience, which handled over a billion daily requests.

Media Appearances

Derek has no verified media appearances

Work History

3-2026
Head of Engineering - Marketing Technology & Customer Data at Catalyst Brands LLC
5-2025 - 3-2026
Senior Director - Digital/MarTech at Catalyst Brands LLC
7-2022 - 5-2025
Senior Director - Digital Engineering, Enterprise Pricing and B2B at JCPenney
6-2021 - 7-2022
Director of Engineering - Online Experiences - Core Platforms and Operations at Best Buy
2-2019 - 6-2021
Director Engineering - Consumer Products - Online Experiences at Best Buy

Education

1990 - 1997
B Sc. from University of Manitoba

More Information

Social Presence :

Prographics :

Exp : 23 Location : Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States Job Level : Mid-senior Designation : Head of Engineering - Marketing Technology & Customer Data at Catalyst Brands LLC
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Insights For Selling To Derek

During A Call Or A Meeting

DO's

  • Stick to your standard pitch and qualifying script, don't try to wing it
  • Use phrases like 'your team deserves', 'best in class' etc.
  • Come across as a trustworthy professional and be respectful, they usually know their game

DONT's

  • Don't get into pricing discussions early on, steer conversation towards proven results
  • Avoid putting conscious effort into relationship-building
  • Don't shy away from asking hard questions, but be extra polite

When Cold Calling

When Writing An Email

While Negotiating & Closing

    The secret to closing fast with Derek is

  • Strong proof of impact and their conviction will matter the most, but they wouldn't want to act unilaterally either
  • Will you ever get a clear answer from Derek

  • They will say no if they are not convinced but you will have to prompt them.

Insights For Deal Planning

    How fast (or slow) will Derek move?

  • They will want to understand things well but can move fast once they have a clear picture.
  • Can Derek take some risk or not?

  • They have good risk tolerance but are likely to think it through once or twice.

You And Derek

Personality Compatibility


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