Guitar Center added Michael Martin as the latest member of its evolving leadership team in 2024. The retail chain announced May 14 that Martin would immediately take on the new role of executive vice president, retail sales and operations.

As a new hire, Martin arrives at Guitar Center as it rethinks its in-store customer experience.

Guitar Center is No. 107 in the Top 1000. The database is Digital Commerce 360’s ranking of the largest online retailers in North America. Digital Commerce 360 categorizes Guitar Center as a Toys/Hobbies retailer.

Michael Martin’s new position at Guitar Center

Martin will report to Guitar Center CEO Gabe Dalporto, the company said.

“Guitar Center is in the middle of reimagining the magic of the in-store experience for our customers, and Michael’s extensive experience driving innovation and execution in omnichannel retail stores will accelerate that transformation,” Dalporto said. “With a deep understanding of retail, coupled with his exceptional operational acumen and agility in navigating market shifts, Michael will be an invaluable addition to our team.”

In his new capacity, Martin will be responsible for strategic initiatives across more than 300 Guitar Center stores and 16,000 employees. He joins another recent hire, former PetSmart executive Kristin Shane. She came to Guitar Center in March as executive vice president, chief merchandising and marketing officer. The company also added Zac Bogart as senior vice president of digital marketing in January.

In addition to retail operations, Guitar Center stores also offer musical instrument repairs and lessons.

Martin’s background

In his previous work, Martin served in leadership positions at Fanatics, Staples and Wayfair. Most recently, his LinkedIn profile credits list his capacity as consulting CEO for the Massachusetts-based drive-up grocery store Addie’s, which closed in 2023.

“I’m thrilled to join Guitar Center — a legendary company — in its next phase of growth,” Martin said in a released statement. “I am committed to fostering innovation and elevating operational excellence across Guitar Center’s diverse sales channels and look forward to working closely with our retail associates as we continue Guitar Center’s transformative journey to provide exceptional experiences to our customers.”

Digital Commerce 360 analysts estimated that Guitar Center ranked No. 5 among top Toys & Hobbies retailers by online sales in 2023. That assessment put Guitar Center’s 2022 ecommerce sales at $0.89 billion, just behind The Walt Disney Company ($0.98 billion). Also in the top five for that category were SD Bullion ($0.98 billion), Streetwater Sound ($1.52 billion) and GameStop ($2.13 billion).

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