Q&A: Chuck Haling, CEO, Athos Commerce
We spoke with Chuck Haling, CEO of Athos Commerce, about the company’s next chapter, how AI is reshaping ecommerce, and his priorities for driving growth and simplification across the global platform.
Starting out at Athos Commerce
You’ve joined Athos Commerce at a pivotal moment for ecommerce. What excited you most about taking on this role?
Ecommerce is evolving faster than ever, and AI has only sped that up. It’s an exciting space with a lot of opportunity and change. Athos Commerce is right in the middle of that shift. The company is growing quickly, expanding through several acquisitions, and bringing everything together under one unified brand. What made this role so appealing is that what Athos needs in its next chapter aligns closely with my background. I’ve spent much of my career helping organizations build, scale, and align around a shared vision, and I see that same opportunity here. There’s strong momentum, a talented team, and a clear path to help merchants compete and grow in a more connected and intelligent way.
In your first 90 days as CEO, what has stood out to you most about Athos Commerce: the people, the technology, or the clients?
The people, without question. I’ve spent time across every region, and what stands out is how much pride there is in the work. This is a team that’s been through a lot of change but stayed focused on customers and results. The technology is impressive, but what really stands out is the mindset. People here are curious, collaborative, and serious about solving problems for the brands and agencies we serve.
Athos Commerce works with an impressive roster of retailers, brands and partners. How do you see those partnerships shaping the company’s next chapter?
Partnership starts with listening. We work closely with our customers and partners to understand what’s changing in their world and how we can help them adapt. The pace of change in ecommerce is intense, and many of the traditional ways of doing business are being disrupted. As their partner, it’s our job to help them navigate that change. That means making sure our products continue to give them an edge, helping them stay competitive, increase order values, and deliver stronger outcomes for their shoppers.
Platform value and market context
Athos Commerce brings together capabilities like on-site product discovery, feed optimization, and conversational AI. Why is it important to offer these within a single platform?
Part of our mission is to make commerce easier for our customers. Most businesses want to simplify their vendor landscape without losing capability. As a commerce enrichment platform, that’s exactly what Athos is built to do. We’re connecting core parts of the ecommerce stack so brands can manage feeds, discovery, merchandising, and personalization in one place. This creates continuity across the daily work their teams do and makes it easier to act on insights quickly. The goal is to give brands a single platform that enriches their data, simplifies operations, and drives stronger performance.
Search abandonment is a costly problem for retailers. What’s your perspective on how generative discovery can improve product findability and conversion rates?
Growth doesn’t come from traffic alone. It comes from helping shoppers find what they want faster and in the way that feels natural to them. Some people search directly, some browse, and others explore through recommendations or inspiration. Our solutions are designed to meet users where they are and give them what they want, when and where they want it. Generative discovery takes this further by understanding intent and context instead of just matching keywords. It makes the experience more conversational, more personal, and ultimately more effective, helping brands turn every interaction into a better customer outcome.
How do you see the ecommerce landscape evolving over the next 12 months, and where can Athos Commerce make the biggest difference for merchants?
Ecommerce is shifting toward more predictive, personalized, and connected experiences. Over the next year, AI will keep changing how shoppers discover products and how brands manage the data behind them. The focus now is adaptation, helping teams make sense of that change without adding complexity. Our roadmap is built around that same idea. We’re investing in ways to simplify how brands manage and act on data so they can move faster, stay competitive, and focus on outcomes that matter. Every part of our platform is aimed at helping customers modernize their stack, improve data quality, and deliver richer, more relevant shopping experiences that drive real growth.
Early priorities and approach
As you settle into the role, what will be your first areas of focus?
Now that I’ve been here for about 90 days, my focus has been on listening, learning, and aligning. I’ve spent time with teams, customers, and partners to understand what’s working and what needs attention. The next step is focus and making sure we’re putting our energy into the areas that matter most to our customers. The foundation is strong. Now it’s about sharpening execution, bringing consistency across the business, and scaling in a way that creates real impact for the brands we serve.
How will you approach balancing immediate business needs with long-term strategic goals?
It starts with clarity and accountability. We need to deliver results now while building for the future. In the near term, that means making sure customers are supported and see the full value of what we’re delivering today. At the same time, we’re planning for what comes next, including geographic expansion, smart M&A opportunities, and continued investment in our platform. The goal is to stay disciplined in execution while making the right long-term moves that set us up for sustainable growth.
Looking ahead
Where would you like to see Athos Commerce in three years’ time?
In three years, I want Athos to be recognized as the leading commerce enrichment platform for brands and agencies. The place they turn to when they want to improve how shoppers discover, connect, and buy. We’ll continue to expand globally, deepen our partner network, and strengthen the value we deliver through our platform. Most of all, I want our customers to see Athos as a trusted, long-term partner that helps them compete, adapt, and grow in an industry that’s changing faster every year.
What’s one piece of advice you’d share with retail leaders navigating the current market?
Focus on what really matters. There’s more noise and distraction in commerce today than ever before. The brands that succeed are the ones that stay clear on their strategy, invest in data quality and customer experience, and simplify how they operate. You don’t need every new tool or trend. You need the right partners, the right focus, and the discipline to execute well.
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To learn more about Athos Commerce and its platform, visit www.athoscommerce.com
