Jim Hamilton is an entrepreneur with an extensive 30-year career in executive management, international retail, global sourcing, e-commerce, marketing and advertising, public and investor relations, finance, operations, logistics, technology innovation and portfolio management.
Hamilton is known as one of the “Fathers of Mass Computer Retailing”, as he co-founded and managed three of the top five computer retailers in the United States and was instrumental in launching hundreds of brands like; Apple, IBM, Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Western Digital and Intel to the mass market.
Hamilton currently serves as Chief Executive Officer to Digital Shopping S.A, “GETITNOW.GR”, Chairman of the investment and consulting company Identity Ventures LLC, and as an active Board Member of PowerMat Ltd.
Prior to that, Hamilton was Corporate Executive Vice President for the $5.3 Billion, “Fortune 300” RadioShack Corporation, where he was responsible for all aspects of the company’s $3.7 Billion annual purchases and the $400 million marketing budget. Hamilton was also accountable for RadioShack.com and Ignition Inc. (RadioShack’s wholly owned industrial design firm). Hamilton was Director and Vice Chairman of Tandy Electronics Limited (China), President of Tandy Holdings and President of Tandy International Corporation. Hamilton joined RadioShack in 2003 to lead the merchandising turn-around plan.
In 1997, Hamilton and Jason Barzilay (co-founder of Packard Bell Computers) founded Argoquest, a private U.S. holding company, that is actively engaged in identifying, funding, and managing a network of over 40 Israeli-based infrastructure and enabling technology companies. In January 2001, Hamilton, as Argoquest’s President, was instrumental in securing a $40 million first round of financing, which was followed by several additional rounds of financing. The principal investors in the company included Broadcom Corporation, HSBC Holdings Plc., Shamrock Holdings of California Inc, (Roy Disney) and John Roach Enterprises.
While Vice President and General Manager of the award-winning computer superstore chain Computer City, a division of the Tandy Corporation, revenues increased from $300 Million to over $2.2 Billion and the store count increased from 37 to over 130 locations in five countries. During Hamilton's tenure, Computer City received many industry and trade awards and was recognized as the “Second Fastest Retailer to hit $1 Billion in Sales.” Hamilton also created ComputerCity.com which was one of the first e-commerce sites by a major retailer.
In addition, Hamilton has held key senior merchandising and marketing positions with Circuit City and Montgomery Ward.
Hamilton is widely recognized for his experience in helping shape the high-tech industry and has served on the executive councils of most major computer vendors including Intel, Microsoft, Apple, and IBM. Hamilton has been recognized in the "International Who's Who in Business Professionals" and serves on the Board of Industry Leaders of the Consumer Electronics Association.
Hamilton has a Master of Business Administration Degree from the University of Dallas, Masters Certification in Internet Marketing from the University of San Francisco and a Bachelor of Arts Degree, from Northeastern Illinois University.