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FastQuery AI, an AI-native operating platform for the home improvement and hardware industry, announced the appointment of Joe Bullock as chief executive officer. Bullock, who previously served as the company’s head of customer success, takes the helm during a period of rapid expansion and technological evolution for the company.
Bullock brings a deep pedigree in technology innovation and a proven track record of bridging the gap between complex technology and boots-on-the-ground operations. FastQuery now drives operational excellence and informs the most consequential decisions for independent retailers, empowering them to operate with a level of speed and precision previously reserved only for big-box retailers.
“Independent retailers are the backbone of our communities. They’ve also been losing ground in technology sophistication and capability, particularly on the AI front,” Bullock says. “At FastQuery, we’re building the context window of the retail organization. We aren’t just giving retail teams answers; we’re providing a unified system of intelligence, insights and workflow that empowers every employee, from the pro-desk to the paint aisle to the back office, to operate with visibility, speed and precision that has never been possible before.”
Bullocks admits that FastQuery is still a young company, but is growing up fast.
“Our customers are really incredible in helping us define what FastQuery becomes,” he says. “I see a lot of enthusiasm around what we’re doing—simplifying the technology landscape while unlocking some really sophisticated capabilities for our customers. We have a lot more coming.”
The appointment comes on the heels of significant milestones for FastQuery, including numerous successful programs with major retail groups, including Nation’s Best Holdings. FastQuery users now log on to the platform over 15,000 times a week.
“Partnering with Joe and FastQuery has fundamentally changed the way we think, operate and execute as an organization,” says Kim Peffley, chief operating officer for Nation’s Best Holdings. “What once felt impossible now feels achievable, because FastQuery has empowered our teams to move faster, think bigger, solve problems differently and create a stronger, more connected business across every level of the company.”
As CEO, Bullock will focus on shaping FastQuery’s product roadmap, maturing the company’s competitive position, expanding strategic partnerships and continuing to make AI technology accessible and approachable for independent retailers.
“When you’re building something this ambitious, the hardest part isn’t the technology, it’s finding a leader who can carry the mission forward with the same conviction,” says FastQuery founder, Anton Kulikalov. “Joe has demonstrated that conviction every single day, first by earning the trust of our customers and now by shaping the strategic direction of the company. We are confident that under his leadership, FastQuery will become the essential operating standard for hardware, LBM and home improvement retailers nationwide.”
