Combatting Workplace Violence

Michael is the Founder & President of M.E. LeBlanc & Company Inc and a Senior Advisor to Retail Council of Canada as part of his advisory and consulting practice. He brings 25+ years of brand/retail/marketing & eCommerce leadership experience and has been on the front lines of retail industry change for his entire career. He has delivered keynotes, hosted fire-side discussions with C-level executives and participated on thought leadership panels worldwide.

Michael is also the producer and host of a network of leading podcasts, including Canada’s top retail industry podcast, The Voice of Retail, plus the Remarkable Retail with author Steve Dennis, Global E-Commerce Tech Talks and The Food Professor with Dr. Sylvain Charlebois, all available on Apple, Spotify, Amazon and all major podcast platforms.

Chris leads the Global Security, BCP, Asset Protection, Investigations, Digital, and Safeness strategies and teams to protect the Gap Inc’s multi-brand organization operations in North America, Europe, and Asia including HQ assets/facilities, Store and On-line Fulfillment Centers, and 3500+ stores, supported by 109,000+ employees who deliver approximately $16 billion USD in annual sales.

Chris has a diverse 30-year public and private sector Loss Prevention/Law Enforcement background. He started his career as a commissioned officer in the US Army’s Military Police Corp. A combat veteran, Chris led and trained Military Police units in South Korea, several US locations, and Mogadishu, Somalia during the Somalian conflict.

He transitioned his career to the private sector joining Target Corporations Assets Protection team. Chris developed innovative training and tactics including some of the pioneering Organized Retail Crime (ORC) teams and task forces; remote monitoring centralized investigative centers; and the first ever private sector forensics lab serving both Retail and Law Enforcement needs.

Prior to his current role, Chris served Gap Inc. as the Senior Director of LP for Banana Republic, Vice President LP for the Old Navy Brand and most recently as the Head of Loss Prevention (interim) leading all of the GAP Inc Loss Prevention, Security, and Business Continuity (BC) teams and efforts. He built a track record of building strong teams, innovation, and integration with the core business to achieve significant financial improvements and create a safe and secure employee and customer environment. Chris adds a genuine love for people and a passion for storytelling and teaching that inspires teams and impacts leaders across the organization.

An active member of the community, Chris has led and participated in multiple Habitat for Humanity builds and a service trip to Jamaica to improve infrastructure for under-served schools. He is a member of National Board of Directors for the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) and a proud leader in Old Navy’s support efforts including Safety Day events that have raised $8 M; delivered of child safety education to parents, and support of the “Hope bag” initiative to help victims of exploitation. Chris was honored with the NRF LP Volunteers in Action Award in 2015 and the NCMEC “Hope Award” in 2018.

Mr. Michael Lamb (retired), LPC has over 40 years of experience in the asset protection / loss prevention industry. He most recently served as the Vice President of Asset Protection & Safety for the Kroger family of companies based in Cincinnati, OH. Mr. Lamb oversaw the strategic and tactical direction related to the shrinkage, waste control and safety across the Kroger enterprise, consisting of approximately 2800 store locations. Prior to his position at Kroger, Michael served as the Vice President of Asset Protection & Safety for Walmart US from January 2013 until April of 2017. Additionally, Mr. Lamb served as Vice President of Asset Protection, Regulatory Compliance and Safety for The Home Depot from September of 2007 through March of 2012.
Michael also serves on the Loss Prevention Research Council Board of Directors, Board of Directors for RILA’s Asset Protection Leaders Council, the Editorial Board for Loss Prevention Magazine, Executive Council of The Loss Prevention Foundation, The Advisory Council for APEX, and on the Advisory Committee of NASP.