# Ciaran Long

> Ciaran Long is the CEO of a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKA), a portfolio of next-generation fashion brands targeting Gen Z and millennial consumers. A qualified Irish Chartered Accountant with 25-plus years of financial and strategic leadership, Long joined a.k.a. Brands as CFO in 2021, stepped into an interim CEO role in 2023, and was named permanent CEO in January 2025. Under his leadership the company returned to net sales growth with three consecutive quarters of double-digit U.S. sales expansion, repositioning the portfolio around a demand-driven 'test-and-learn' merchandising model and a major bet on physical retail expansion. He previously served as CFO of Samsclub.com and held senior roles across Walmart's e-commerce division, and earlier in his career he co-founded CleanGrow, a water quality sensor technology startup.

- **Role:** CEO at a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp.
- **Organizations:** a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp., Sam's Club (Walmart), Walmart eCommerce, CleanGrow, CBS Interactive, CNET Networks, KPMG
- **Nationality:** Irish
- **Education:** Qualified Irish Chartered Accountant (ACA), Chartered Accountants Ireland
- **Known for:** Led a.k.a. Brands to three consecutive quarters of double-digit U.S. net sales growth, Returned a.k.a. Brands to overall net sales growth after a period of contraction, Delivered meaningful year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA at a.k.a. Brands

## Career timeline

- **1997-2001** — Senior Manager at KPMG, early career in audit and advisory
- **2001-2008** — Vice President of Finance and Controller at CNET Networks, then VP of Financial Planning & Analysis
- **2008** — VP of Financial Planning & Analysis at CBS Interactive
- **2009-2014** — Co-founded CleanGrow, a water quality sensor technology company
- **2014-2021** — Multiple VP Finance roles at Walmart eCommerce and Sam's Club, culminating as CFO of Samsclub.com
- **2021** — Joined a.k.a. Brands as Chief Financial Officer
- **2023** — Named Interim CEO and CFO of a.k.a. Brands following departure of Jill Ramsey
- **2025-01** — Appointed permanent CEO of a.k.a. Brands; Kevin Grant named as incoming CFO

## Achievements

- Led a.k.a. Brands to three consecutive quarters of double-digit U.S. net sales growth
- Returned a.k.a. Brands to overall net sales growth after a period of contraction
- Delivered meaningful year-over-year increase in adjusted EBITDA at a.k.a. Brands
- Successfully scaled a.k.a. Brands' physical retail expansion as an omnichannel strategy
- Co-founded CleanGrow, a water quality sensor technology startup
- Served as CFO of Samsclub.com, a multi-billion-dollar omnichannel business
- Built a 'test-and-learn' demand-driven merchandising model across four distinct fashion brands

## Latest updates

- **2025-01** — Appointed permanent CEO of a.k.a. Brands Holding Corp. (NYSE: AKA), replacing his own interim role
- **2025-01** — Participated in ICR Conference 2025 fireside chat on DTC vs wholesale strategy
- **2024** — Led a.k.a. Brands through three consecutive quarters of double-digit U.S. net sales growth under interim CEO tenure

## Links

- Website: https://aka-brands.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ciaran-long-5799773
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr2T0Kfj-CQ
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/akabusiness/

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/ciaran-long
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-05-30