Retail technology veteran Ken Morris dies

Longtime retail technology consultant and practitioner William Kenneth (Ken) Morris has died following an illness.

Morris, who was serving as managing partner of Cambridge Retail Advisors at the time of his death, had more than 40 years of experience in the retail industry, most recently as the founder and principal at Boston Retail Partners (BRP). 

Prior to BRP, Morris was CEO & president of LakeWest Group and the former founder and owner of KMG Solutions, a software company that developed and marketed business process management solutions to the retail industry.

Prior to founding KMG solutions, Morris was the founder and CEO of CFT Consulting and CFT Systems which were dedicated to serving retailers and their supply chain partners for their technology needs. In addition, he served as the director of the New England Retail Technology Practice for Deloitte & Touche.

His experience included strategy, selection, development and deployment of e-commerce, catalog, and traditional retail solutions for merchandising, in-store, finance, distribution, loss prevention and logistics functions. 

In addition to decades of experience as a retail industry consultant and analyst, Morris also had extensive background as a retail technology practitioner. He held positions at various retailers, including VP-level roles at Lord & Taylor and Filene’s, as well as executive positions at Talbot’s, Stop & Shop Supermarkets, Grossman’s (Home Improvement) and Sears.

Morris also served as a board member of Boston Main Streets Foundation, a network of 20 non-profit neighborhood organizations using a comprehensive revitalization approach to create, build and sustain healthy commercial districts. 

Editor’s Note: I knew Ken Morris personally and professionally for over 25 years. He was an industry stalwart and also a great person to call your friend. I would like to offer my sincere condolences to Ken’s family, friends and colleagues.

[Read more: Exclusive: Cambridge Retail Advisors on beating supply chain issues]