In this memorial episode of the Watson Weekly, host Rick Watson is joined by Kelly Goetsch, President, Pipe17 Jeff Oh, Growth Leader, Commerce, Publicis Sapient, Jason “Retailgeek” Goldberg, Chief Commerce Strategy Officer, Publicis, Giancarlo Anania, Senior Director, Global Strategic Alliances & GTM — Partner & Ecosystem Strategy, and Octavio Delgado, Digital eCommerce Engineering Leader, GM to celebrate the life and legacy of Jon Panella, the Group Vice President at Publicis Sapient and a titan of the retail technology industry.

Over a career spanning more than 30 years, Jon became a cornerstone of the commerce world, known as much for his encyclopedic knowledge as for his role as a super connector and information broker.

The conversation dives into the personal stories that defined Jon, including:

• A Master Mentor: Colleagues share how Jon led by example, always sharing recognition and lifting those around him.
• The "Old-School Gentleman": The panel reflects on Jon’s diplomatic nature, his Socratic method of leadership, and his unique ability to treat competitors with kindness and generosity.
• Industry Presence: From the halls of trade shows to his leadership as Chairman of the MACH Alliance, Jon’s influence was felt globally.
• Life Beyond Commerce: A look at Jon’s deep devotion to his family—particularly his wife, Linda—and his unwavering (and championship-winning) love for the Pittsburgh Steelers.

On May 2, a celebration of the life of Jon Panella will take place in Fort Worth,Texas.