# Eric Kobe

> Eric Kobe is the CEO of Route, the ecommerce post-purchase platform. His career has moved from management consulting and analytics into operating and executive roles at Wiser Solutions, Affirm, Groundspeed, Koalafi, and Route. He has repeatedly worked where complicated data, risk, and consumer experience meet, including helping Affirm enter new verticals, leading Groundspeed through 400% ARR growth before its acquisition, and now arguing that tracking, returns, and issue resolution are central to customer loyalty.

- **Role:** Chief Executive Officer at Route
- **Organizations:** Route, Koalafi, Groundspeed Analytics, Affirm, Wiser Solutions, Navigant Consulting, FTI Consulting
- **Education:** MBA, University of Michigan - Stephen M. Ross School of Business, BS in Systems Engineering and Economics, University of Virginia
- **Known for:** Helped scale Affirm's strategy and operations organization while the company grew from roughly 100 to more than 900 employees., Led Affirm's entry into new verticals and helped expand its consumer lending product suite., Led Groundspeed during a period in which annual recurring revenue grew 400% before the company was acquired by Insurance Quantified.

## Career timeline

- **2006-2013** — Worked in management consulting and data analytics, including roles at FTI Consulting.
- **2013-2014** — Associate Director in data analytics at Navigant Consulting.
- **2014-2016** — Led analytics and operations work at Wiser Solutions.
- **2016-2020** — Held management roles at Affirm, including strategy, analytics, operations, and new markets; helped launch new verticals and expand the consumer lending suite.
- **2020** — Joined Groundspeed Analytics as Chief Operating Officer.
- **2022** — Promoted to CEO of Groundspeed Analytics.
- **2023** — Led Groundspeed through its acquisition by Insurance Quantified after 400% ARR growth during his tenure.
- **2024-05** — Joined Koalafi as President, managing day-to-day operations.
- **2024-09** — Appointed CEO of Koalafi in a planned leadership transition.
- **2025-07** — Became CEO of Route, succeeding Michael Yamartino, who moved to the board.
- **2026-01** — As CEO, announced Route's acquisition of Frate Returns to add exchange-first returns to Route's post-purchase platform.

## Achievements

- Helped scale Affirm's strategy and operations organization while the company grew from roughly 100 to more than 900 employees.
- Led Affirm's entry into new verticals and helped expand its consumer lending product suite.
- Led Groundspeed during a period in which annual recurring revenue grew 400% before the company was acquired by Insurance Quantified.
- Built ecommerce partnerships involving Walmart, Wayfair, and Peloton while at Affirm.
- Advanced from Koalafi president to CEO within four months as part of a planned transition.
- Became CEO of Route in July 2025 and led the company through its January 2026 acquisition of Frate Returns.

## Latest updates

- **2026-06** — Argued that Prime Day success depends on return policies, exchange workflows, fraud prevention, and branded tracking being ready before order volume arrives.
- **2026-06** — Published commentary on the rise of the try-on economy and the need to manage returns while protecting margins and customer trust.
- **2026-05** — Discussed how friction in tracking, delivery, or returns can undo customer goodwill, and advocated loyalty-linked return benefits and exchange-first design.
- **2026-03** — Shared Route's Consumer Pulse Check findings, including that 97% of surveyed consumers said a positive return experience makes them more likely to buy again.
- **2026-01** — Announced Route's acquisition of Frate Returns, combining exchange-first returns with Route's protection and visual tracking products.
- **2025-07** — Became CEO of Route effective July 14, with predecessor Michael Yamartino moving to the board.

## Links

- Website: https://route.com
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erickobe
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/route
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/gorouteapp/

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/eric-kobe
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-09-27