Former Chestnut Market CEO Ryan Oettinger Joins Bridgera as Chief Revenue Officer
Bridgera, a retail technology firm, has appointed Ryan Oettinger, former CEO of Chestnut Market, as its new chief revenue officer. Oettinger's background in convenience and fuel retail will help the company expand its AI-driven operational technology solutions.
Bridgera, a technology company specializing in streamlining and improving operational technology, has appointed convenience retail industry veteran Ryan Oettinger as its chief revenue officer, according to a Tuesday announcement.
Oettinger brings extensive experience with both convenience retailers and technology companies, including more than a decade at Chevron and several years at Pilot Company, as well as a tenure with Vontier's Gilbarco Veeder-Root subsidiary. Most recently, he was named CEO of Chestnut Market in January before resigning from the East Coast c-store retailer three months later.
In his new role, Oettinger will oversee revenue-generating functions at Bridgera, including sales, marketing, and business development, he said in an interview with C-Store Dive. He assumed the role on June 1.
Oettinger said his experience in convenience and fuel retail should help Bridgera understand the industry's customer base as the company expands its presence in the sector.
“Having someone that really understands what convenience retailers and petroleum marketers and fuel equipment distributors are looking for, what their pain points and headaches are and how we can actually solve those in a fairly quick and disciplined and cost-effective manner with technology, is important,” said Oettinger.
Bridgera's technology connects any linked systems a business may have—such as fuel pumps, coolers, food warmers, and point-of-sale systems—to its proprietary AI agents, Oettinger explained. The agent can not only alert the retailer to potential problems but also take action to address some of those issues before they impact operations.
The system can handle an estimated 70%–80% of routine operational decisions while keeping human oversight for higher-risk exceptions, according to the press release.
Convenience retail companies are increasingly adopting AI solutions across multiple store and forecourt functions. This year, the industry has seen Loop Neighborhood Market deploy an AI assistant, Urban Value Corner Store expand its AI-powered coolers, and Casey's General Stores broaden the rollout of automated ordering agents.