X-Hoppers Named New CEO and Partnered With Ace Hardware
The retail technology firm aims to scale its communication tools through a new hardware cooperative partnership.
Updated on Sept. 24, 2026 in Business Strategy
X-hoppers has appointed former Chief Revenue Officer Alberto Carlos Benigno as its new CEO following his tenure with parent company Wildix. Alongside this leadership change, the firm announced a new strategic partnership with hardware retailer Ace Hardware.
Why it matters
The leadership transition and partnership signal a focus on scaling retail communication solutions within the competitive hardware sector. Aligning with a major cooperative like Ace Hardware provides a specific distribution channel for the company's proprietary technology.
The firm appointed one new CEO and established a single strategic partnership, marking a shift in leadership and market reach. The impact of this collaboration on the company's broader retail footprint is currently pending further operational integration.
The players
Alberto Carlos Benigno
The new CEO of x-hoppers who previously served as the company's Chief Revenue Officer and held roles at Wildix and Gartner.
x-hoppers
A retail technology provider owned by Wildix that specializes in communication solutions for store environments.
Ace Hardware
A large hardware cooperative that serves as a major retail partner for technology vendors seeking access to thousands of independent store locations.
Wildix
The parent organization of x-hoppers that manages the firm's broader unified communications and retail strategy.
The details
Alberto Carlos Benigno, who joined x-hoppers in 2025 as Chief Revenue Officer, assumes the CEO role to lead the business. The partnership with Ace Hardware was disclosed during an event in Orlando, Florida, intended to integrate specialized communication infrastructure into retail environments. By leveraging the scale of a hardware cooperative, x-hoppers intends to broaden the deployment of its retail-focused audio and communications technology.
Timeline
Alberto Carlos Benigno joined the firm as Chief Revenue Officer in 2025.
Benigno was named CEO of x-hoppers in September 2026.
Market Landscape
This move aligns with the broader industry trend of retail digitalization where firms deploy specialized communication tech to optimize store efficiency. It follows the pattern of established technology vendors utilizing large cooperatives to secure a footprint in the competitive hardware market.
Operators should watch for potential shifts in retail communication standards as x-hoppers integrates its technology into the Ace Hardware ecosystem. Monitor the rollout of these new tools as a signal for whether this partnership will become a competitive benchmark for other retail chains.
The takeaway
Leadership changes at technology vendors often trigger rapid shifts in product distribution and strategic focus. Operators should audit their current retail communication stacks to see if emerging integrations offer efficiency gains similar to the x-hoppers and Ace Hardware deployment.
Further reading
For more on evolving corporate structures, visit our Business Strategy section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Retail Technology Innovation Hub.
