Rewards Network, a Chicago-based technology company and a leading provider of marketing and loyalty services for thousands of local restaurants throughout the United States, has made several key leadership hires as the company positions itself for rapid growth.
“We are doing nothing short of transforming the business,” said Ed Eger, CEO of Rewards Network. “We are modernizing our technology stack and product experiences, and we are becoming more data driven in our approach to marketing. I am thrilled to welcome Steve, Andrei and John to Rewards Network to help us capture the tremendous opportunity we have to continue to build our network of premier loyalty brands, rewards members, and restaurants.”
Prior to joining Rewards Network as President, Steve Fusco served as Vice President and General Manager of Global Distribution at PayPal, leading a global team responsible for technology platform and marketplace partnerships. Previously, he served in several executive roles at Citigroup in both the credit card and retail banking businesses.
“Rewards Network has been a leader in this space for decades, and I believe our scale and unique assets have placed us at a real inflection point,” Fusco said. “The investments that we are making in people, product, and technology are helping our 11,000 restaurants grow and thrive by connecting them to over 17 million high-quality diners across the United States. Our customers spend more to earn rewards, and our restaurants reap the benefit.”
Andrei Utkin joined Rewards Network from Insureon, where he served as CMO. He previously oversaw loyalty and rewards marketing at Capital One and brings strong experience in data-driven marketing to Rewards Network.
In his role as Chief Marketing Officer, Utkin is responsible for strategy, development, and implementation of all marketing programs impacting new member enrollment, member engagement, and restaurant acquisition and retention.
“At Rewards Network, we have the opportunity to transform our sales force and marketing organization to fuel truly exponential growth,” said Utkin. “Rewards Network is primed to take full advantage of the host of analytical, digital and customer relationship management tools we have at our disposal to deliver the greatest amount of value to our restaurants and our diners.”
John Shahin brings deep experience in sales leadership and technology to his role as Vice President of Sales for the Northeast Division. Prior to Rewards Network, Shahin spent two decades at Citigroup, most recently leading the national sales team for Citigold Private Client.
These three hires come during the first year of Ed Eger’s tenure as CEO. Eger joined Rewards Network in 2017 after positions as President and CEO of OANDA Corporation, General Manager of the Americas at PayPal, and CEO of Citigroup’s International Cards business.
As Rewards Network continues to grow, the company is investing in several key areas, including technology, marketing, and sales. For a full list of career opportunities, visit https://www.rewardsnetwork.com/careers/.
About Rewards Network
Headquartered in Chicago, IL, Rewards Network is a leading provider of restaurant marketing programs. Founded in 1984, the company connects 17 million consumers, 11,000 restaurants, and more than 20 of the world’s most recognizable rewards brands in a powerful network spanning the entire United States. Thousands of restaurants benefit from the financial and marketing services provided by the company, which include the provision of capital and numerous promotional programs via email, mobile, and social media.
Rewards Network offers its dining programs in partnership with major airlines, hotel chains, and other leading loyalty marketing programs in the country. Our millions of members include diners who spend hundreds of millions of dollars annually at participating restaurants and in return, earn airline miles, hotel points, college savings, fuel discounts, and retail savings. For more information, please visit http://www.rewardsnetwork.com or follow us on Twitter at @RewardsNetwork.
