Steve Lawrence

Steve Lawrence serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Academy Sports and Outdoors, one of the largest sporting goods and outdoor retailers in the United States. In his role, Lawrence has been a key driver of the company's digital commerce strategy, including the development and scaling of Academy's retail media network, which positions the retailer as a competitor in the rapidly growing commerce media space. His leadership reflects the broader industry trend of major retailers monetizing their first-party data and digital shelf space through programmatic and direct advertising solutions. Lawrence joined Academy Sports and Outdoors after a career in retail merchandising and operations, bringing deep expertise in category management, vendor relationships, and omnichannel retail strategy. His ascent to the CEO role came as Academy was navigating its post-IPO growth phase, requiring both operational discipline and forward-looking investment in digital capabilities including personalization, loyalty data, and media monetization. Under his leadership, Academy has invested in building out its digital advertising infrastructure, aligning with the retail media network boom that has seen retailers like Walmart, Target, and Kroger become significant players in the AdTech ecosystem. Lawrence's strategic focus on leveraging Academy's customer data assets and digital touchpoints makes him a notable operator at the intersection of retail and advertising technology.

Last updated Sep 9, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment