Lincoln-based e-commerce company names new CEO

The company announced Wednesday that Joshua Ketter has taken over the position from Brett Thome.

Ketter, who joined Spreetail three years ago as CFO and took over as head of retail last fall, has extensive e-commerce experience, including stints at Target and Amazon.

“I am honored to assume the role of Global CEO of Spreetail,” Ketter said in a press release. “Our team is incredible and I look forward to building on our strong foundation, driving innovation and continuing to deliver exceptional value to our brands and partners.”

Thome, a Nebraska Wesleyan University graduate who was one of Spreetail’s first employees and has served as CEO since 2011, has moved into a role focused on strategic initiatives and building new service pillars. A spokesman said the leadership change had been in the works for a year.

“Joshua’s leadership and strategic vision have been instrumental in our recent growth, and I am confident he will continue to drive Spreetail forward as our new Global CEO,” Thome said in a release. “This transition is a testament to our commitment to strategic planning and leadership development at Spreetail.”

What started out as a refurbished computer retailer has undergone a sea change under Thome’s leadership, going from a consumer goods company to one of the world’s largest e-commerce accelerators.

The company has also experienced a number of growth challenges, including rapid expansion after moving its headquarters to the Nebraska Innovation Campus in 2015 and subsequent downsizing, including massive layoffs in 2019 and 2022. However, since the recent layoffs, Spreetail has hired more employees and now employs more than 1,500 people.

One of Thome’s last big moves as CEO was raising a $208 million equity investment early last year.