Newsroom›February 22, 2026
Specific Industries Names J. Rutherford Pennington as Chief Disruption Evangelist
Appointment reflects firm's ongoing commitment to posture
Corporate HQ (Virtual) — February 22, 2026 — Specific Industries today announced the appointment of J. Rutherford Pennington as Chief Disruption Evangelist, effective immediately. Pennington will lead the firm's public-facing posture of disruption across the Professional Services & Emerging Ventures vertical.
Pennington joins Specific Industries from a career he characterizes as 'a series of strategic pivots, each more disruptive than the last, none of which resulted in a stable organization.' He holds a PhD in Theoretical Business, self-awarded in 2011.
In his role as Chief Disruption Evangelist, Pennington will maintain the firm's annual Disruption Thesis, represent Specific Industries at external disruption-focused events, and chair the Disruption Residency program, which is to be formed. Pennington will continue a close advisory relationship with Strategic Void Consulting, where he has served as Chief Disruption Evangelist since 2014.
The Chief Disruption Evangelist role was posted in 2022 and has remained open. Pennington's appointment reflects a careful search process conducted by the firm's leadership team over the preceding four years.
Pennington is expected to deliver 12 to 18 speaking engagements in his first year, all self-arranged.
"Rutherford brings the kind of posture we have been seeking for this role. We look forward to the contributions he will not hesitate to describe."
— Bill Sambrone, Founder & Chief Executive Officer
"If you have not disrupted something by lunch, you are not trying hard enough. I am honored to bring that ethos to Specific Industries at scale."
— J. Rutherford Pennington, Chief Disruption Evangelist
About Specific Industries
About Specific Industries — Specific Industries is a private holding company headquartered in Corporate HQ (Virtual). The firm identifies and acquires brands serving markets too specific for conventional investment. Specific Industries currently maintains 28 active portfolio brands across five strategic verticals. The firm was founded in 2019 and remains privately held. No outside capital has been accepted.
Contact
Director of Press Release Drafting
For media inquiries: please do not inquire. If inquiry is unavoidable, written correspondence is preferred.