Executive Chairman
DICK'S Sporting Goods
Ed Stack is the executive chairman of DICK'S Sporting Goods, the largest, omni-channel sporting goods retailer in the United States. In addition to overseeing merchandising for the company, Ed leads several of DICK'S key strategic growth initiatives.
From 1984 through January 2021, Ed served as the company's chairman and chief executive officer. He led the company through a remarkable period of growth, guiding the company's evolution from two stores in upstate New York to a Fortune 500 company.
A passionate advocate for youth sports, Ed has led DICK'S Sporting Goods' efforts to help more than three million young athletes across the country play sports through support from DICK'S and The DICK'S Sporting Goods Foundation's Sports Matter program.
Ed is the author of It's How We Play the Game: Build a Business. Take a Stand. Make a Difference. He serves on the board of directors of the National Retail Federation. Ed earned his Bachelor of Arts and Science degree in accounting from St. John Fisher College.
Sunday Jan 11
8:30am - 9:15am
Vusion Theatre
NRF Board Chair and BJ’s Wholesale Chairman and CEO, Bob Eddy, kicks off NRF 2026: Retail’s Big Show with a welcome address and a look ahead at what’s in store for the industry. He’ll offer a preview of this year’s event highlights and share NRF’s key initiatives shaping retail in 2026. Immediately following, Ed Stack, Executive Chairman of DICK’S Sporting Goods, will join Bob on stage for a fireside chat. Their conversation will explore leadership strategies for navigating shifting consumer expectations, the evolving role of experiential retail in sports, and how DICK’S is leveraging technology and community engagement to drive growth and loyalty.
