Speakers

A result-driven Business Development professional with over 16 year’s expertise in: Product Management – Product Development, Launch and Lifecycle Management Business Development – forecasting and planning Strategy Marketing – Media Relations and Strategic Marketing Plans Channel/Sales Account Management Sales and Technical Training.

A creative strategist with strong negotiation, interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to see the “big” picture to facilitate key decision-making process and revenue generation.

Leading the construction and commercial licensing legislation and processes along with improving the inspection efficiencies which enhance the compliance in the Kingdom. Managing number of initiatives that are related to Ministries’ strategy and visual pollution elimination to achieve the required visual appeal objectives.

A seasoned Professional, owning 17 years’ experience in providing strategic vision, tactical oversight for boosting housing supply and real estate development thereby shaping the future of the real estate sector in the Kingdom.

AbdulRahman A. Al-Tawil:

• Significantly contributed to formulation of policies and agenda for real estate development and fiscal reforms, to further contribute to Saudi Vision 2030.
• Acted as a catalyst in bringing about the growth and development of Saudi Arabia Residential Real Estate Industry – market size of SAR 18.1 Billion (USD 5.1 Billion) in 2021.
• Elected as a Chairman of Business Improvement Committee, providing prudent consultancy and advice on business facilitation around real estate development issues.
• Hand-selected to manage several ministry initiatives , undertook regulatory reforms and initiatives that were aimed at driving transparency, governance and financial discipline required to boost and support the development of the real estate sector.
• Manages a portfolio of over 100 Billion riyals in Real Estate Development projects.
• Manages the Real Estate Development Supply Chain in the ministry (end to end) including , lands , technical affairs , building technology , real estate regulations , and development housing.

An accomplished executive with extensive experience in municipal and real estate investment, strategic planning, and operational excellence, currently serving as an Assistant Deputy Minister for Privatization & Financial Sustainability at MOMRAH. Demonstrated success in revitalizing municipal investment, launching municipal enterprises, and driving regional economic development. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams and fostering public-private partnerships to enhance public services and empower local communities. Recognized for spearheading innovative investment models, modernizing legal frameworks, and managing high-profile forums. A certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and CFA Level 1 holder, with a background in electrical engineering at Saudi Aramco.

My expertise in urban economics and planning, strategy development and portfolio management, along with my ability to train and manage cross-functional teams has driven business growth and operational excellence across diverse Saudi organizations. Previously, I have led the successful development and execution of several game-changing initiatives, enabling the delivery of various multi-billion strategies and programs.

Mohamad joined Cenomi in January 2022. He is currently a Board Member of Cenomi Centers, Cenomi Retail, and Voga Closest and Chairman of the Executive Committee for Cenomi Retail.

He has a Bachelor of Science with Honors from the Lebanese American University, Lebanon, in 1994. MBA at INSEAD, France, 2001.

Mr. Mourad brings 28 years of global management experience in technology, retail, consumer goods, and e-commerce.

Mr. Mourad has held various senior leadership roles at major tech companies, including nearly 10 years at Google, where he was Google’s Managing Director for the Middle East and North Africa, before moving to take on a global role at Google headquarters in Silicon Valley. More recently, Mr. Mourad served as a Vice President at Instacart, North America’s leading on-demand e-commerce player. Prior to that, Mr. Mourad was in management consulting at Booz & Company (Now Strategy&), focusing on M&A and Corporate Development. Mr. Mourad has an intimate knowledge of the Saudi Arabian market, having spent more than 10 years in the Kingdom and serving the market in his various regional and global roles.

For over three decades, Renuka has guided the Group’s corporate strategy making Landmark Group the region’s largest omnichannel retailer of trusted, homegrown retail brands and a growing portfolio of regional and international hospitality brands. A cornerstone of the Group’s journey, Renuka was instrumental in creating the high-street fashion brand Splash in 1993. Under her leadership the Group forayed into e-commerce over a decade ago, now with 8 homegrown brands online. The Group ventured into the grocery business for the first time in 2018, with the launch of Viva, UAE’s first grocery discounter brand, and has over 60 stores today. She also spearheaded the launch of the automated Mega Distribution Centre in 2019, which is the MENA region’s largest privately-owned logistics and distribution hub.

An ardent believer in the Group’s Social Impact and Sustainability agenda, she started the Group’s flagship community initiative, Beat Diabetes, in 2009 – to raise awareness and fund treatments for diabetes.

Bander Hamooh has over thirty years of experience in numerous retails, pharmaceuticals, healthcare and FMCG leadership roles. A Pharmaceutical Science graduate from King Saud University; Bander began his career at the Saudi Ministry of Health then he moved to Merck & Co. as the Scientific Office Manager showcasing his expertise in healthcare and pharmaceuticals after that he served as VP General Manager at GlaxoSmithKline.

He has a proven record of experience in leading strategic business transformation programs in different industries such as pharmaceutical, retail, healthcare and FMCG.

In October 2017, Bander was assigned the Chief Executive Officer of Panda Retail Company. Being a customer-oriented executive with a legacy of retail business achievements, Bander has been driving a robust turnaround and transformation programs in Panda, repositioning the company on top of retail industry in Saudi Arabia. Bander also serves as a Board Member from multiple public listed/semi-government and joint stock limited companies.

Patrick Chalhoub is the Group President of Chalhoub Group, partner and creator of luxury experiences in the Middle East. Alongside successfully running several luxury brands in the Middle East, he is also behind many home-grown luxury brands. He particularly contributed to the turnaround of Christofle brand that is today owned by the Group. Patrick is also a strong advocate of embracing change to drive strategic growth and long term relationships. He has steered several joint ventures and acquisitions strengthening the Group’s role as a hybrid retailer and partner of choice. Patrick plays an instrumental role in the development of Chalhoub Group sustainability strategy through Chalhoub Impact. He is a firm advocate of Servant Leadership, reverse mentorship, and helping start-ups to scale-up. In recognition of his endeavour to promote the French art-de-vivre culture and language, the French government awarded Patrick with the medal of Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite, and the honour of Chevalier de l’Ordre National de la Légion d’Honneur. Patrick is a Board Member of the UN Global Compact, a Council Member of UAE’s Circular Economy, and a Board Member of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry.

Yasser Joharji was appointed Nahdi’s CEO and board member of Nahdi Medical Company in 2014 and 2021 respectively. With over 30 years of sectorial experience, Mr. Joharji has held a number of leadership positions at Unilever Saudi Arabia and the Savola Group. He holds a BA in Industrial Engineering from King Saud University, Saudi Arabia.

Avery Baker has been the driving force behind Tommy Hilfiger for 24 years, leveraging pop culture, fashion, technology, and entertainment to establish the company as one of the world’s most recognized premium lifestyle icons. As global brand President of the $9.3 Billion business, she brought heart, humanity and a willingness to disrupt the status quo to ensure this global giant remained agile, relevant and beloved.

As the first woman to hold a C-level position at Tommy Hilfiger, Avery was a key driver of the company’s sustainability and inclusivity vision, leading the global brand through multiple transformational programs.

“Tommy Now” – the industry’s first experiential, shoppable runway platform – and partnerships with cultural icons Shawn Mendes, Shawn Yu, Lewis Hamilton, Zendaya, Gigi Hadid, KITH and Barbie have driven global business growth and have made Tommy Hilfiger culturally relevant with a new generation of consumers.

Avery resides with her family in Amsterdam, Netherlands.

John Hadden is CEO of Alshaya Group, one of the world’s leading brand franchise operators across bricks & mortar & multiple digital distribution channels.

Reporting to Alshaya Group’s Executive Chairman, Mohammed Alshaya, John has overall responsibility for Alshaya Group’s performance and growth, including its current transformation programme which is driving Alshaya’s omnichannel evolution.

John leads a diverse and skilled team who together drive the performance of thousands of retail stores, cafes, restaurants, and leisure destinations, as well as a strong online and digital business, and a commitment to delivering great customer experiences.

From 2003 to 2005 he led the Starbucks European management team in Amsterdam, returning to Alshaya as Senior Vice President of Property in 2005. In this role, John supported the major expansion plans for the Alshaya Group as the business opened up new stores, new brands and new operating countries.

He was appointed as Chief Operating Officer in late 2017 and assumed CEO responsibilities in October 2019 and was formally named CEO in July 2020.

Sima Ganwani Ved, a dynamic leader, and entrepreneur has revolutionised the retail industry in the UAE as the Founder and Chairwoman of the Apparel Group. Her journey from an ambitious Department Manager at her father’s shopping mall at age 20 to a respected industry titan is truly inspiring. Under her guidance, the group now boasts over 85 brands in more than 2,100 stores across 14 countries. Sima Ganwani Ved’s remarkable achievements have earned her numerous prestigious awards, including The Philanthropreneur of the Year, Retailer of the Year, Great Place to Work, Great Women’s Award, Emirates Woman of the Year, and a spot in the 100 most powerful business women of 2023.

Sima Ganwani Ved’s story is one of perseverance, innovation, and commitment to both business excellence and social responsibility. Her impact on the retail industry and her role as a mentor and advocate for women in business make her a notable figure in the entrepreneurial landscape.

Based in Singapore, Adriano has spent the better part of the last 15 years providing world-class data and monetisation solutions at dunnhumby where he was President of the LATAM business and previously President of APAC (leading their team of 200 across nine countries).

He also has extensive experience in driving growth and leading change in the intersection of retail, digital transformation, AI and customer analytics with full ownership of selling, building the team and nurturing relationships with key clients and stakeholders.

Adriano holds an MBA in Strategy and Marketing from the London Business School and a BA in Social Communication and Advertising from the Universida de Catolica in Brazil. Adriano is an avid fan of Formula 1 and enjoys swimming and family life.

Prior to joining Cenomi Centers, Alison held the role of CEO for Pradera Retail Asia, a joint venture that was formed with Macquarie Bank’s MIRA division, based in Shanghai, China, for 5 years. This JV was subsequently acquired in 2021 by Brookfield Asset Management, one of the world’s largest alternative asset managers, where Alison led the transition of PRA into Brookfield and acted as Senior Advisor and Acting Head of Commercial Real Estate for Brookfield Properties in China where she was responsible for all retail assets including shopping malls, offices, and mixed-use developments. Before China, Alison spent several years in Turkey and Europe as Managing Director and Board Director for Pradera.

Alison holds a master’s degree in Organizational Leadership with honors from Colorado State University and a bachelor’s degree in Marketing and International Trade with honors from the F. I. T., State University of New York.

Alison has more than two decades of extensive shopping mall and retail real estate experience having been based in and managed some of the world’s most prominent emerging markets across Asia, Europe, and Latin America. In addition, she has more than 10 years of experience working in the US market with global industry-leading companies, like General Growth Properties and Simon Property Group.

Hani Weiss is Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim Retail, the exclusive franchisee to operate Carrefour in a total of 15 markets across the Middle East, Africa and Asia.

Hani is responsible for developing and growing the company’s Carrefour franchise business and establishing market leadership across all countries it operates. This goal is accomplished through exceptional customer centricity and a robust omnichannel offering and includes reimagining the stores of the future and executing a digital transformation.

Hani began his career at Majid Al Futtaim – Retail in 2001 and his lengthy experience within the operation, and unparalleled understanding of the food retail business saw him promoted to Chief Executive Officer in September 2017. Today, Hani leads a business of 46,000 colleagues, operates over 450 Carrefour stores across 15 countries in the region, and serves more than 770,000 customers a day.

Hani holds an Executive MBA from the London School of Business (Dubai campus) and has completed the Senior Executive Development programme at HEC Paris.

Abdulmajeed is a serial entrepreneur, with Tamara being his third venture. Tamara allows online and in-store shoppers in Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Kuwait to split their payments in up to four payments with no hidden fees or interest. Tamara works with leading brands such as SHEIN, Jarir, Noon, IKEA, H&M, Farfetch. Today, Tamara has over 10 million registered users and 30,000 partners, employing a workforce of over 500 people strong across Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Germany, and Vietnam.

Previously, Abdulmajeed co-founded Nana, a digital grocery shopping platform. Nana is currently the largest digital grocery shopping platform in Saudi Arabia.

Abdulmajeed has a Master of Arts in Economic Policy from Boston University and a Bachelor of Arts in Financial Economics from California State University, Northridge.

Winston Fisher serves as CEO of AREA15, the world’s first purpose-built immersive entertainment district located minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. Welcoming nearly 4 million visitors since opening its doors in 2020, AREA15 Las Vegas will soon expand across 20 acres to its north. In addition, AREA15 announced its first licensed pop-up location as part of Riyadh’s Boulevard World and its second permanent location coming to Orlando.

As a first-of-its-kind venture occupying its own, brand-new category, AREA15 represents the culmination of Fisher’s career-spanning passion for innovation and aspirational approach to every project he undertakes. He is the leading industry voice of the experience economy, speaking across the globe at conferences about the future of immersive experiences.

Fisher was recently named to the International Board of Directors of the Themed Entertainment Association (TEA). In addition, he is also recognized as one of Blooloop’s “Top 50 Theme Park Influencers.”

Stephen runs the Apparel for the Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group, 4 business units with a cumulative annual turnover running into the billions of Dirhams.

He joined KOJ in 2013, with over 30 years of apparel industry experience, directly managing or partnering with global brand names such as Playtex, Wonderbra, Marks & Spencer and Victoria’s Secret.

Prior to moving to the region Stephen spent time working in Europe, the United States and Asia, as well as holding non-executive positions with a number of SME businesses.

He holds an MSc from the Cranfield Institute of Technology as well as a number of professional qualifications from the London Business School.

Stephen loves the cultural diversity and opportunity travel affords and is fascinated by the ever-changing social fabric of our world.

Zia is the Chief Content Officer at Insider Intelligence, the combined organization of eMarketer and Business Insider Intelligence. She oversees a team of 100+ analysts and forecasters who cover retail, ecommerce and digital advertising trends around the globe. Under her leadership, the company has become one of the best-known sources of research on international retail trends such as social commerce and retail media.

Prior to her current role, Zia was the Chief Global Content Officer at Shoptalk and co-founder of Groceryshop, two large-scale retail conferences that attract over 10,000 attendees. In 2019, Shoptalk and Groceryshop were acquired by UK-based Hyve Group for a combined $145 million. She also spent 7 years at Forrester Research where she led the team covering omnichannel retail.

Zia holds a BA from Dartmouth College and an MALD from The Fletcher School at Tufts University. She lives in New York City.

Mohamed has a rich history of expertise spanning over three decades in Retail and Strategic Planning. His career began with various esteemed organizations in the banking, auditing, and FMCG sectors. Before joining eXtra in 2004, he held senior roles at P&G for 15 years, serving various regions.

In addition, Mohamed holds strategic positions on the boards of several international companies across the GCC and MENA regions like Halwani Bros in Egypt and Göknur in Turkey.

Charbel Sarkis is a Director at Google, leading the business in Saudi Arabia and the Retail, Telecom and Digital Natives industries across MENA. Prior to joining Google in 2012, Charbel was an investment banker at Goldman Sachs in London and a strategy consultant at Booz Allen Hamilton in MENA. Charbel holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a Masters in Strategic Management from HEC Paris and a Bachelor of Engineering from the Saint Joseph University in Beirut.

Karen Wazen is the Founder & CEO of Karen Wazen Eyewear and has successfully grown her personal brand to become a globally recognized personality where she shares her everyday life with over 14M+ fans on social media. Widely known for her unique style, Karen is loved by global fashion houses, including Fendi, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Dior, Roberto Cavalli, and Schiaparelli. She is also the Co-Founder of KE Partners, an investment firm and portfolio of over 12 companies that she manages with her husband, Elias Bakhaazi. An Alumnus of Regents University in London, Karen earned her Master’s Degree in Psychotherapy and, upon graduating, moved to her current hometown of Dubai to launch her businesses and grow her family. A serial entrepreneur, Karen’s first business venture began in 2016 with her self-titled fashion blog Karen’s Choice, which gained global recognition and catapulted her into the spotlight amassing a community of 14+ million across multiple social platforms.

Abdellah Iftahy is a partner in McKinsey & Company’s Dubai office. He leads the consumer and retail practice in the Middle East and is an active member of the global Strategy service line at McKinsey. In the last 12 years he has served several institutions on strategy and organization topics. He serves local and multinational consumer players, retailers and family businesses in the Middle East on a multitude of topics, varying from strategy to large commercial transformations of organizations. Abdellah is a thought leader on the topics of consumer and retail industries of the future and has written several publications and articles on those subjects.. He leads research associated with the Firm’s Consumer Sentiment Survey in the Middle East, a proprietary survey that measures the pulse of consumer trends and behavior in the region. Abdellah also serves family-owned businesses in the region on strategic, organizational and transformation issues.

Simone Dominici, CEO of KIKO Milano, has vast high-profile international experience in the Consumer, Luxury, Beauty, and Retail sector, having worked for the top global groups over the last thirty years, across 6 countries and 3 continents. Simone started his career at Arthur Andersen and then moved in Unilever up to the position of Vice President of the Food Italy Business Unit, then he became General Manager of Coin Department Store and, subsequently, Executive Vice President Global Markets at Bottega Veneta, with responsibilities in Europe, America, and Asia. In 2018 he joined Coty, first in Geneva and then in the Amsterdam headquarters, where he strengthened performance in the EMEA region as its Executive Vice President, with responsibility for both the Consumer and Prestige Divisions, while also serving as Head of Global Revenue Management, accelerating sustainable value creation. As of September 2022, Simone became the CEO of KIKO Milano.

Norma has over 25 years of experience with PwC and is a Partner in our Transaction Services Team based in Dubai.

She currently leads our Retail and Consumer markets sector across the Middle East. She has led numerous financial due diligence deals and valuation projects in the retail and consumer sector including fashion, F&B, Consumer products and others in the Middle East region for large regional families, corporates and private equity clients.

She also works with teams leading other propositions to bring industry specific solutions to PwC clients.

Norma authors the annual PwC publication titled “Global Consumer Insight Survey” covering consumer behavior in Egypt, Qatar, KSA and the UAE

She also leads PwC ME’s Inclusion and Diversity proposition across the Middle East.

Neeraj Teckchandani is the CEO & Director of Apparel Group head quartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and has been with Apparel Group for 22 years. Neeraj has spent over 26+ years in the UAE and has vast experience within the retail industry across various domains such as strategy, management, operations, mergers, and acquisitions and financial operations to name a few.

Neeraj is an Alumni of Harvard Business School and University of London. He is also the member of the Beta Gama Sigma Society and has been awarded various industry awards like “ Best Fashion Lifestyle CFO (UAE) Award at the Global CFO Excellence Awards 2020”. “ World’s Greatest CFO Award 2018-2019 by Asia One” and “Most influential CFO in Fashion and Lifestyle Services (UAE)” at the Global Business Insights Awards 2018.

Marigay McKee is a co-founder and Managing Partner of Fernbrook Capital Management LLC, a New York-based venture fund in consumer technology and retail services.

Marigay launched her career at Estée Lauder in Europe, subsequently joining Harrods as head of its Beauty department. In her 13 years at Harrods, she spent the last five years of her tenure as the Chief Merchant Officer.

In 2013, Marigay was recruited from Harrods to become the President of Saks Fifth Avenue under Hudson Bay Corp (TSE:HBC). As President, Marigay initiated a new branding, marketing, and packaging strategy, and rebuilt Saks’ luxury launch platform for new, emerging, and international brands entering the U.S. market. During her tenure, Marigay generated over $500 million of new business for the company.

In 2022, Marigay was awarded her MBE for retail services overseas in the New Year Honours list by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. In February 2023, Marigay officially received her MBE at Windsor Castle from King Charles III.

Marigay sits on the board of Aston Martin Lagonda Global Holdings PLC (LON:AML)

Cyrille Fabre is a Senior Partner in Bain & Company’s Middle East offices; he leads Bain’s Consumer Products & Retail practice and family businesses in the Middle East.

Cyrille has 20 years of management consulting experience and delivers strategies that work for leading businesses.

He primarily advises retailers and consumer product companies on strategy, customer experience, digital and performance improvement. He has also developed specific expertise in the Middle East, having worked with multiple family businesses across operating model, succession planning, board and executive roles and structures, institutionalization of family businesses. In addition, Cyrille works with economic development agencies to address topics such as retail sector strategies, ecommerce regulations, food security in the GCC region.

Cyrille has applied his management consulting expertise globally with Bain, having worked in the firm’s Brussels office. He is a frequent keynote speaker in retail conferences and his insights have been published in global and regional publications including Financial Times, Forbes, The National, Saudi Gazette…

Ali Bailoun is the Regional General Manager for GCC Cluster – Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and Oman. He is responsible for overall strategy in KSA, Oman and Bahrain, including business development, resource optimization, and building long-term partnerships with Visa’s clients, fintechs, digital banks, government, regulators and other key stakeholders to drive the adoption of cashless payments and digital transformation across the three markets.

Ali is an accomplished business leader bringing almost 20 years of payments, banking and management experience to support issuers, acquirers, merchants and governments in Visa’s key markets to improve their profitability and grow their business. He joined Visa in 2012 and has since been responsible for the overall strategy that has successfully led Visa’s business.

Ali holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management and Marketing from the Lebanese American University and completed several leadership, strategy and decision-making programs at Harvard University and MIT Sloan Management.

Karl is an experienced consultant and transformational leader with over two decades of expertise in consumer-facing industries, including retail, consumer products, and hospitality across the EMEA region, with a specific focus on Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Collaborating with retailers and their investors, Karl specializes in driving performance improvement across the retail agenda. His focus includes critical levers such as activating revenue, enhancing operating models, and driving profit improvements throughout the business.

Ali is a distinguished business leader and a retail development champion with a profound understanding of commercial and financial aspects.

Prior to his appointment as CEO in January 2019, Ali served as the Chief Commercial Officer for eXtra, where he masterminded commercial tactics. His robust leadership skills were instrumental in devising sustainable growth strategies for key consumer electronics sectors.

Nisreen Shocair was previously appointed by Providence Equity Partners as the CEO of a live streaming network serving the MENA region, a first mover in the space of shoppable digital content. She had been the President of Virgin Megastore for the Middle East & North Africa for over a decade, leading its transformation and playing a key role in promoting Middle Eastern culture to a young demographic.

Nisreen has held leadership positions at Viacom, Sony Music, Bertelsmann AG and Hearst Entertainment. Nisreen co-chairs the Retail Leaders Circle, a think tank for the Middle East retail industry and its eco-system. She has been awarded Female CEO of the Year by CEO Middle East and Businesswoman of the Year by Women in Leadership. Nisreen is on Arabian Business 100 Most Powerful Arab Women’s list four years in a row and is listed in the top 100 Most Powerful Arab Women by Forbes Middle East.

ET 40 under 40 business leader. Debashish focuses on driving large scale change at the board level for leading retailers, consumer companies related to topline and bottom-line improvements. He also supports leading Government institutions and corporations develop sector capacity related to Food and Retail. He has experience across more than ten countries in India, Asia and Middle East and has served on several National Business Committees and taskforces related to Consumer and Retail, in addition to serving as jury of several prestigious Retail Awards. Debashish has an MBA from Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta and is a Mechanical Engineer from Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur.

Growing up in beautiful and sensorial Morocco, Hind’s passion for beauty date right back to age 5 spending countless hours ‘playing beauty shop’ at her mother’s dressing table and marvelling at indulgent hammam rituals.

Hind then chose to join the beauty industry, starting a career that spanned over 20 years at L’Oréal and Procter and Gamble in various brand and general management roles, leading both iconic brands such as Olay, L’Oréal Paris and Maybelline, as well as cult ones such as Redken, Essie and Pureology to better connect with consumers and deliver market leading success.

In 2019, Hind found her next chapter as co-founder and partner of Waldencast, a global best in class beauty and wellness platform that incubates, acquires and scales the next generation of high growth purpose driven brands. Hind founded her own brand whind under Waldencast Ventures incubator and then became in Julyn 2021 the 1st Arab woman co-founder of a Nasdaq listed company with Waldencast PLC and the acquisition of Obagi and Milk Make up.

Sundeep is a Partner in Deloitte’s Retail & Consumer practice and has over 20 years of experience in Retail gained across Europe, US and Middle East working with some of the most world’s most recognizable brands in both industry and consulting roles at executive level.

As well as holding trading roles, he has led multiple large-scale transformations and Operating Model redesigns across process improvement, people & talent and digital and technology enablement.

He has also led and scaled go to market ventures in Europe and the US and prior to joining Deloitte, held Chief Strategy Officer and COO roles with one of the largest Retail conglomerates in the Middle East.

Abdulmohsen Albabtain is co-founder and Head of Payments of the Saudi Arabia-based BNPL company, Tamara.

Previously, Abdulmohsen worked for BCG as a management consultant for just over 3 years, advising on strategy and operations consulting for clients in the Middle East. He advised funds on international investments by building financial models, conducting market sizing exercises, and analyzing industry trends. He led setting up new departments, entities and operating models to improve business efficiency and performance.

Abdulmohsen has a Masters of Business Administration at London Business School and a Bachelor of Arts in Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals.

Gemma D’Auria is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s Milan office, the Global Leader the Apparel, Fashion & Luxury group and a co-leader of the People & Organizational performance function. She supports organizations in the retail, fashion, and luxury sectors in driving transformations for higher performance and health, including building capabilities and developing leadership capacity. Gemma is one of the leading authors of McKinsey’s flagship State of Fashion report and has published numerous articles sharing insights on best practices strategy, organizational health and business leadership. Prior to moving to Milan, Gemma spent over a decade in the Middle East Region, serving multiple clients across the Retail and Consumer sector.

Ghaith Shocair is the Chief Executive Officer and Board Member of Saif Al Ghurair Real Estate, a Dubai diversified real estate developer and operator, and is the Founder and General Manager of Theorema Partners, a management consulting firm focused on advisory and corporate transformation. He brings his unique experience, insight and leadership style formed by 30 years of executive experience across multiple sectors including large scale retail and mixed-use real estate development and operations, consumer products and investment banking. During his 10 years at Majid Al Futtaim, he led several strategic, organizational and capability changes to drive the growth and competitive strength of its largest business, that included $5Bn of new developments including iconic regional retail projects. He worked at Kingdom Hotel Investments as CFO and Board Member and is an 11-year PepsiCo finance veteran, where he led several regional and global strategic initiatives at PepsiCo International including heading global planning in New York.

Aditi is a Partner with Deloitte and leads the Retail, Wholesale and Distribution practice in the Middle East. With more than 17 years of experience across industries, she advises clients on their Data and AI transformation journey – embedding data driven change in their organizations. After having worked for 13+ years in various countries in UK and Europe, she is now focused on supporting Private families and Retail & Consumer businesses in the Middle East through their transformation journey. She is an expert in the areas of data strategy, customer, loyalty, e-com, merchandising, retail operations and supply chain, digital and AI transformation.

Dima Ayad, a Lebanese fashion luminary based in Dubai, embarked on her journey as

a fashion designer in 2010, driven by a vision to fill a void in the market for fashion that

seamlessly blended innovation with accessibility. Her bespoke label not only

addresses this gap but also sets a new standard for forward-thinking design.

In addition to her flourishing fashion brand, Dima expanded her entrepreneurial

endeavors by establishing a public relations (PR) and marketing consultancy firm in

2020. This diversification reflects her dynamic approach to business and a

commitment to making a lasting impact in the fashion and communications

industries.

Dima Ayad’s fashion brand is a testament to her dedication to inclusivity and

celebrating the diversity of the female form. Embracing women of all sizes, from petite

to plus, her designs exude a focus on inclusivity and a celebration of natural beauty

with each meticulously crafted piece.

Saud Ghassan Alsulaiman is the CEO of Alsulaiman Group, a group that has made significant strides in retail, logistics, technology, and real estate development in Saudi Arabia and the GCC. He has a proven track record of transforming brands’ market positions, as evidenced by his previous role as CEO of IKEA Saudi Arabia & Bahrain. Saud’s leadership is characterized by strategic investments, innovation, and expansion into sectors such as Omni-channel Retail and E-commerce Fulfillment. His expertise in retail and logistics is reflected in his diverse roles, including key board positions and entrepreneurial ventures. Saud has a bachelor’s degree in interior design, an Executive MBA, a Masters in Change, and a Digital Business Leadership Certificate, which demonstrate his commitment to continuous learning and leadership excellence. Under his guidance, Alsulaiman Group has become a hallmark of innovation and sustainable growth.

Dan joined Debenhams as Chief Executive Officer in January 2022 to digitally transform the iconic British heritage brand.

Prior to joining Debenhams, Dan spent a decade as Group Multi Channel Director at JD Sports Fashion Plc.

He delivered unprecedented multi channel growth as JD established itself at the pinnacle of the sports fashion industry, becoming a global multi channel leader and entering the FTSE 100.

Dan started his career in management consulting after reading Economics and History at Balliol College, University of Oxford.

Pauline Coquet is an Associate Partner in Bain & Company’s Middle East offices; she is part of the Bain’s Retail practice in the Middle East.

Pauline has almost 15 years of management consulting experience across Europe and the Middle East, working with senior executives and management teams for both local and international clients. Her work primarily surrounds strategic planning and implementation, customer experience as well as digital transformation.

She has led worked with multiple retail players across the GCC region, spanning from large mall operators, to fashion and luxury companies, as well as grocery and restaurant players across topics.

Pauline holds a Master Degree in Engineering and Engineering management.

Abdel-Salam Bdeir is a seasoned CEO with a 30-year experience in retail and FMCG, specialized in corporate transformation within the GCC and MENA regions.

Currently the CEO of SACO, KSA, his expertise lies in planning and executing corporate turnarounds, evident from his terms at The Sultan Center (TSC), where he achieved remarkable results across the GCC markets, reversing negative EBITDA into over USD 90M in just two years. His contributions through Rival Consulting Group (RCG) provided actionable insights to major companies in the region, enhancing their business models and financial results. As the spearhead of Othaim Markets Company, the company achieved 65% increase in net income.

Since the beginnings of his career at Procter & Gamble (P&G), Abdel-Salam Bdeir has consistently propelled companies to financial growth, expansion and market dominance.

His academic excellence is backed by a BBA and an MBA from the American University of Beirut (AUB), complementing his commitment to industry best practices and strategic innovation in retail.

Matt works with leaders of retail and consumer-facing businesses to tackle the seismic shifts shaking the industry and deliver significant improvements in performance. He is a business transformation specialist with more than 20 years’ experience covering both turnaround and growth programs.
Matt’s experience includes running transformation programs, managing proposition development, producing top-line growth, achieving channel/market optimisation, obtaining margin enhancement, and delivering improvements in operational productivity and cost reduction. Before joining AlixPartners, he cofounded business transformation boutique consultancy Boxwood (latterly KPMG Boxwood), where he oversaw the retail and consumer sector.

Dr. Simon Land is a Senior Partner in McKinsey’s global Consumer Practice and leads the sector in the EEMA region, as well act as the global co-leader of McKinsey’s ‘Growth in Consumer’ initiative.  With 20 years of experience, he has been serving consumer companies from strategy to implementation on both growth as well transformations. Simon’s areas of expertise and experience include advanced analytics in sales & marketing topics, such as pricing and revenue growth management, key account management, sales force management, marketing spend optimization, and commercial operating model definition. He has experience across consumer sub-sectors, namely CPG, apparel & fashion, and retail. Simon holds a PhD from RWTH Aachen university.

Colin is a Senior Advisor to McKinsey & Co. in their Global Apparel, Fashion & Luxury practice with extensive C-suite experience in the retail and fashion industry. At McKinsey, Colin advises leading fashion brands in both luxury and mass markets, across buying, data, analytics, brand management and marketing, among other topics. Prior to joining McKinsey, he was the Chief Executive Officer of Jaeger and has also held senior leadership roles in general management, merchandising, brand development, supply chain, product and design with New Look, Esprit, Nike, Umbro, Polo Ralph Lauren, Coats Viyella and Marks & Spencer. Colin was appointed Honorary Fellow of the Royal College of Art and Honorary Professor of the British School of Fashion.

Brenda Bellei Bizzi is the Chief Executive Officer of WHITE Milano, the most important international fashion showcase that takes place 3 times per year in Milan during Fashion Week. From 1994 to 1999 she worked first at KPMG and then at Arthur Andersen International in the Tax and Legal Dept. In 2000 she started working in realizing WHITE in Milano during the 4 Fashion Week at Fiera Milano City. In 2002 WHITE moved to via Tortona in Milan, so Brenda Bellei Bizzi contributes to build the TORTONA FASHION and DESIGN DISTRICT transforming the area in the place to be both for the most important fashion and design companies. In 2007 she became CEO of WHITE and M.Seventy Group, the consultancy and organizing company owning WHITE Brand. She is actually in charge of the business development and international relationship of the group; she also supervises all the fair activities being a board member of AEFI the international association of Fair inside the UFI group.

Sélim Chidiac has been the Chief Executive Officer of the L’azurde Company since 2010, after it was acquired by a Private Equity Consortium steered by Investcorp. Sélim led the Company through a solid turn-around which materialized in its IPO in 2016. Through its organization of 2,000 people, the Group designs, manufactures, wholesales to more than 1,500 3^rd party retailers and retails through its own 100 mono brand retail points of sales.

Sélim started his career at Procter & Gamble in Geneva. A graduate of L’école Supérieure de Chimie Physique Électronique de Lyon, he followed his degree with postgraduate executive studies at INSEAD, London Business School, IMD Lausanne, UCLA and Harvard Business School. Prior to L’azurde, he was CEO for the North America division at Red Bull, where his tenure spanned 12 years. Sélim is also a Board Director at Theeb Car Rental Company in KSA.

Shehim Mohammed serves as the Director of the LuLu Group in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the biggest retailer in the MENA region with its headquarters in Shehim Mohammed holds a Master of Business Administration from India and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Retail Management. He started working for Reliance in India as a Regional Sales Manager after finishing his education. Started in LuLu Abu Dhabi for their distribution division as Sales Manager. His reigns from 2003 – 2007 have taken the distribution division to a multifold. At the age of 30, he received a promotion and was assigned to Saudi Arabia as the Commercial Manager to start up business there. He was the organization’s youngest Country Commercial Manager. He was the impetus behind the founding of the Company in Saudi Arabia with the first foreign investor license given by the Saudi Government through its Foreign Investment Door, MISA, where getting a license for retail and trading had remained very complex and demanding.

Myf joined Cenomi Group in August 2022. She brings two decades of retail and real estate marketing expertise, holding global leadership roles with renowned industry names including Westfield and Nestle. Myf is overall responsible for the development of the Cenomi Group marketing strategy. Managing a team of 6 direct reports and over 70 indirect reports across KSA and the CIS. Responsible for the launch and development of the first corporate master brand in the history of the organization. Responsible for the development and execution of a new Group-wide digital strategy including loyalty and Mono-brand eCommerce sites.

Myf also held the role of Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at the Saudi giga project, NEOM, and most recently was Global CMO with commercial real estate developer IWG, based in London.

Myf’s academic Qualifications are a Bachelor of Business and 2 years of an MBA, but she moved from Australia to the UK in 2010 before she could finish it.

Mohammed has 18+ years of experience in North America and the Middle East helping clients tackle their more critical agenda items. His work is focused on Consumer and Retail Industries where he has advised on several cross-functional topics, including eCommerce, Corporate and Growth Strategy, M&A, and broader transformation programs. His work has demonstrated impactful and measurable top and bottom-line results for his clients. Mohammed holds an MBA from the University of Michigan and a B.S. in Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Costi is the Global Lead for the Office of Generative AI. He has over 20 years of experience in technology, with expertise in Data, Analytics and Information management, as well as the delivery of large and complex technology programmes. Costi’s experience spans both the Private and Public Sectors, but he has focused on the Public Sector for the last 15 years. Within the Public Sector he has worked in both central and local government, helping organisations deliver IT enabled transformation programmes, and procure large and complex information technology solutions. His background in information management has served well in helping his clients with their increasingly demanding analytics and AI – based requirements.

Dubai-based, British national Laura Buckwell is a an industry event EMCEE, moderator and former TV news anchor. Throughout her time, Laura has interviewed many high profile CEO’s, personalities, entrepreneurs and government bodies.

As a prominent figure within the events industry. Laura enjoys hosting high profile industry platforms, including COP28, the 18th Session for UNIDO, the FII Ryiadh, the Global Smart Energy Summit, Hypermotion and the Future Sustainability Summit to name a few. Laura has had the privilege of introducing global leaders to the stage including Presidents, Prime Ministers, and UN officials.

Awards nights are also a forte, from the BBC Good Food Awards for 7 years running to the Emirates Woman Awards, Laura continues to be booked for prestigious gala dinners, recognizing different segments of society and industry.

Laura is currently contributing to Euronews in Dubai as a broadcast journalist, helping tell the emirate’s stories across the current affairs landscape.

Hisham works closely with business leaders in the retail and consumer facing industries to design and implement complex growth, transformation, and profit improvement programs. With 20 years of consulting and operational experience across the MENA region, Hisham advises clients on strategy, revenue growth, commercial and margin improvement, and cost optimization projects, with a track record of delivering sustainable financials results.

A strategy think tank, with over 30 years of experience in creating successful developments and renovating existing retail properties in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

With well-versed skills and persistent follow-up in operations and marketing, Mohammad created two epic retail shopping centers in Saudi Arabia: Hera Community Mall at Madinah Road and the iconic super-regional, Red Sea Mall at King Abdul Aziz Road in Jeddah. He also carries in his career a portfolio of eight other shopping malls which were developed during his work with SAVOLA.

Mohammad is a public Saudi figure on the retail scene. He chairs the Shopping Malls Committee at JCCI, a member with the promotions and events Committee at JCCI and a member with the National Saudi Tourism Board in Riyadh.

Currently he heads one of the most dynamic Real Estate Development Companies in Saudi, Red Sea Markets Co.  His vision is to turn it into one of the major players in the Shopping Mall Industry in Saudi Arabia.

Luca Barbi is a general partner and COO at STV, the largest technology venture capital fund in MENA. At STV, Luca is responsible for spearheading the continuous development of the firm. He plays a pivotal role in leading market research efforts, authoring STV Insight Reports, and overseeing their publication. Additionally, he is a member of the investment committee and holds positions as a board member across various portfolio companies.

He brings to STV over 12 years of experience in management consulting and transaction advisory services, advising organizations across Europe and the Middle East on a range of sectors.

Before joining STV, Mr. Barbi was a core member of the Corporate Development and Consumer Goods practices at BCG and a Principal at its Middle East headquarters. Before joining BCG, he worked for 2 years in the Transaction Service division of PWC.

Mr. Barbi holds an MBA from Columbia Business School in New York, a master’s in Merchant Banking from LIUC University in Italy and a BA in Finance and Economics from Bologna University in Italy.

Abbondandolo has over ten years’ experience supporting entrepreneurs and business leaders to scale their businesses across the MENA, Africa and APAC regions. At Checkout.com, Remo is responsible for expanding the business across the Middle East and North Africa region.

Prior to joining Checkout.com, Remo worked for Africa’s largest online travel agency, Travelstart, where he oversaw the company’s expansion into the Middle Eastern market. He was also part of the founding team of Africa Internet Accelerator (a Naspers’ investment), which launched three of the fastest-growing e-commerce businesses in South Africa. He also worked at Rocket Internet Australia & South East Asia where he was a founding member of the team that launched leading e-commerce companies The Iconic, Zalora and Lazada.

Remo is based in Dubai, UAE and holds a Dual Master’s of Science in Management of Innovation and New Technology from Bocconi University and Copenhagen Business School.

Lynn Al Khatib, Vice President of Communications at Chalhoub Group, brings over 18 years of corporate and brand communication experience. She specializes in building corporate brand strategies, crisis management, and stakeholder relationships. Lynn joined Chalhoub Group in 2021 after a successful tenure at Nestlé, where she led Middle East Corporate Communication, establishing robust internal and external communication channels. Her global experience as the Global Nutrition, Health, and Wellness Communication Manager at Nestlé S.A. in Switzerland enriched her skills in bridging corporate, scientific, and consumer communication. Beyond her professional endeavors, Lynn is an accomplished professional moderator, podcaster, interviewer, and presenter. She collaborates with leaders on their thought leadership, personal branding, and media training. Additionally, she is a passionate advocate for Women in Leadership and a dedicated mother of two.

Khaled Tash is the Group Chief Marketing Officer of Saudia Group. With more than two decades of experience in marketing and communications, Khaled has worked in the aviation, FMCG and real estate sectors where he has led brand development, brand management, strategic launches and transformation initiatives.

Khaled also served as an advisor to various public sector entities including the PIF, Ministry of Housing and Misk Foundation. He launched Saudi Arabia’s investment promotion brand “Invest Saudi” as Deputy Minister of Investment.

His education includes a Bachelor of Science from King Fahd University for Petroleum and Minerals, and has completed executive programs at Harvard Business School, INSEAD and the CMO Accelerator Program in Cannes Lions. Khaled joined Saudia in February 2021 to lead Saudia group’s brand and communication transformation to become the “Wings of Vision 2030” and the marketing efforts that aim to “bring the World to Saudi Arabia”.

Megan is the UK Retail and Customer Insights Lead, leading the Data Intelligence team. She has worked in retail for c.20 years covering the end to end data and insight ecosystem in both online and bricks and mortar retailing. Megan is obsessed with customer centricity and the optimisation of product and marketing through making data driven, customer led decisions. She is responsible for driving growth for her clients and developing opportunities to commercialise their data, at scale.

Her team specialise in creating the single customer view and using innovative machine learning techniques leverage vast external data sets to understand customers’ preferences and behaviours to drive better brand engagement, increased spend, effective marketing and customer loyalty.

Megan led the development of a single customer view and machine learning based Data Intelligence products for a global furniture retailer to drive the success of their omnichannel customer strategy, bringing industry experience and learnings from similar implementations in retail.

Shane Eldstrom holds the position of CEO at United Developers, Qatar. His leadership is instrumental in guiding the company’s comprehensive portfolio, which encompasses a significant involvement in the luxury hospitality, luxury retail and entertainment sectors.  Notably, United Developers owns and manages Place Vendôme, acclaimed as the World’s Most Beautiful Shopping Mall by the World Prix-Versailles Awards, a testament to the company’s dedication to excellence.

Eldstrom’s extensive background in real estate development includes his previous role as CEO of Al Farwaniya Property Developments, UAE. This experience has been integral in shaping his approach to business strategy and development. His academic background, including an MBA from the prestigious INSEAD, complements his professional acumen. Eldstrom’s influential role as the former President of the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres marks his significant impact on the retail real estate landscape in the MENA region, solidifying his reputation as a distinguished leader in the field.

Extensive experience in manufacturing and FMCG followed by a lengthy and detailed career in grocery retail. Led high growth retail strategy development and execution to leadership position in marketplace. Participated in the establishment of Small & Medium Enterprises General Authority, Monsha’at, where national projects were managed to form the strategies for retail in the Kingdom. Returned to the private sector to lead the strategy development an execution for a major grocery retailer to take them to the leadership position in the marketplace. Have been managing the creation of exciting customers’ shopping experiences through the management of properties and their development. Active participation in the World Retail Congress and other retail events, like Retail Leaders Circle. Holding several board seats creating value in different sectors.

Faiza Bouguessa leads the first luxury fashion house based in the Middle East.From her office in the Dubai Design District, she creates distinctive luxury ready-to-wear and modest wear, seamlessly blending global trends with contemporaryclassics and cultural heritage. Central to her design aesthetic is an ethos ofminimalist sophistication and refined elegance.Faiza has harbored a passion for garment making and exquisite craftsmanshipsince her early years, learning the basics of sewing with her grandmother. Thisearly experience led her to undertake numerous internships in tailor ateliers,where she mastered the fundamentals of pattern making and gained anunderstanding of fabric characteristics.Today, her eponymous brand’s signature silhouettes embody highly moderncuts, bold lines, and geometric precision, offering a minimalist wardrobe forstrong, sophisticated individuals

Abdulla Almoayed is a serial entrepreneur and the Founder and CEO of Tarabut, the leading Open Banking platform in the MENA region. He is passionate about creating game-changing digital infrastructures that drive forward the data-driven economy.

His vision is to create a collaborative ecosystem for innovation that empowers a new generation and provides financial inclusion for the millions of MENA’s unbanked, underbaked, and underserved populations.

A committed investor, Abdulla provides financial support and mentorship across a range of sectors such as healthcare, education, logistics, cybersecurity, and fintech. Through the establishment of Tarabut and his dedication to advancing collaborative digital technologies via angel investing, he aims to transform and personalise the financial services sector in the region.

Abdulla holds an MBA from the London Business School and an Honours Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management from the University of Westminster, London.

Frederic Levy-Perrault is the Chief Executive Officer at Al Raya Supermarkets with responsibility for turning around the company and transforming the company into the digital age serving a wider base of customers.

Prior to joining Al Raya Frederic Levy-Perrault worked in Saudi Arabia, Morocco, India, Thailand, Japan… as CEO or MD at several companies, including Carrefour KSA, Marjane, Aditya Birla Retail and Carrefour Group in different countries. Notable is his 8 years as CEO of Carrefour KSA for Majid Al Futtaim Retail.

Frederic Levy-Perrault received an MBA from France (Toulouse Business School) and an MBA from Nicholls State University, LA, USA in 1986 and 1989

Frederic Levy-Perrault is recognized as a true change-driver able to build cross-cultural consensus, motivate individuals and teams to embrace change and strive for ambitious goals with method. He is passionate about building stimulating environments where goal setting and measuring performance is the norm. In his assignments he has been successful at creating a vision, turning that vision into an actionable strategy, setting the milestones critical for the delivery of that strategy and ensuring all milestones are hit.

Michael Chalhoub is the President of Strategy,
Growth, Innovation & Investment and of the Joint
Venture department for Chalhoub Group, the leading partner for luxury across the Middle East.
Within its portfolio of joint ventures are partnerships with Louis Vuitton, Dior, Fendi, Sephora,
Coty, Puig, Havas and Farfetch.

Michael is an entrepreneur at heart and has launched several startups – including Sport360,
one of the leading media groups in the GCC, which has grown to a 75-person business
generating over 10M USD annual revenues in just 4 years under his helm. He also helped
kickstart a number of ventures out of the Harvard Innovation Labs.

Michael started his career in corporate finance at L’Oreal USA. He then moved into consulting,
in the TMT sector, helping US corporates explore new market expansion opportunities in Latin
America. Michael also managed Michael Kors in the Middle East and was in charge of
international expansion and revenues at Olympique de Marseille.

Michael is a Baker Scholar at the Harvard Business School, where he obtained his MBA. He also
holds a Masters in Finance and in International Affairs from the Paris Dauphine University.

Turki has extensive experience driving retail growth in various organizations across the region. Previously, Turki worked for LinkedIn, where he accelerated revenue growth by scaling field and customer adoption of
LinkedIn’s most strategic products and initiatives within the MENA region. He also held consulting roles at Kearney and Strategy&, advising clients across the GCC on various strategic topics across multiple sectors.

Abdullah Al Tamimi is a highly experienced professional in the fields of business, finance, and strategic management. He has held several key finance positions in commercial and development banks, as well as real estate organizations, throughout his career. With a deep understanding of the latest industry developments, Al Tamimi has demonstrated expertise in finance, accounting, and corporate strategies.

Al Tamimi has held senior positions at Al Rajhi Bank and Malaz Capital. He has also served as the Business Development management, Chief Financial Officer (CFO), and currently Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO) at Hamat Holding Company.

In addition to his corporate experience, Al Tamimi has been a member of many local councils and administrations, which highlights his involvement in financial and development affairs.

Al Tamimi’s educational background includes a bachelor’s degree in finance from Gonzaga University from USA. Furthermore, he holds certification in Business Credit and Commercial Lending from Moody’s Analytics in the USA.

Mr. Adnan Abdullah Al-Khalaf has been serving as the Chief Executive Officer of Leejam Sports Company since February 13, 2022. Boasting a 20-year management experience, he led a number of companies across the medical, services, manufacturing, retail, and distribution sectors, including Saudi Telecom Company (stc), where he headed its customer experience, sales and retail units. Al-Khalaf also worked as CEO of “Arabian Oud” between 2006 and 2014. Al-Khalaf served as an advisor to the Board of Directors of “Sale Internation” in the Sultanate of Oman between 2017 and 2022, “Al-Iwan Medical Company” during 2011 and 2012, and “Al-Arrab Contracting Company” between 2003 and 2009. In addition to serving as CEO of the “Twaik Holding Group” between 2002 and 2006. He holds an Executive MBA from Alyamamah University (YU) and a master’s degree in international business management from INSEEC Business School.

Dion Pouw is an accomplished entrepreneur, retail- and tech startup investor, and the visionary CEO of 3DWD, Creators of WOW. Leading this multi-disciplinary design agency, Dion empowers brands and retail developers globally to elevate their spaces through cutting-edge design and technology. Learn more about their innovative approach at www.3dwd.eu.

With an extensive track record working for clients in 60+ countries and delivering insightful talks in five languages at prominent retail and innovation conferences worldwide including in the United States, Colombia, Panamá & the Netherlands, Dion brings a unique international perspective to the evolving trends in the retail property landscape.

In addition to his role at 3DWD, Dion serves as an investor and growth partner for various retail and tech scale-ups, including the revolutionary One Hundred Restrooms (www.onehundredrestrooms.com) concept, setting a new standard for public restrooms with 50+ locations across Europe.

When not travelling across the globe, Dion calls Lisbon, Portugal, home, where he’s not only leading the 3DWD team but also embracing the challenge of mastering a sixth language with the assistance of his four children.

Stefan is Managing Partner KEANE providing the lead on strategic F&B consulting, masterplanning and concept development for KEANE’s studios In London, Dubai, Riyadh and Bangkok. KEANE has established itself as one of the region’s leading F&B consulting firms.

He has previously held regional leadership roles at Starwood/Marriott for EMEA, IHG (SE Asia) Hilton (Europe) and E&Y Consulting.

Stefan has over 500 F&B concepts to his name and brought brands such as Buddha Bar, Hakkasan, Pierre Gagnaire and Embassy to Dubai as well as helped develop retail/F&B icons such as Mall of the Emirates and Yas Mall.

KEANE are currently working on the largest projects on the planet in the Kingdom and have built a reputation for their industry-leading approach to F&B masterplanning. In essence, KEANE research and track the dining behaviour of each visitor to a mall or hotel to support their recommendations on F&B GLA, mix and revenue.

Ben Chesser is the Founder and CEO of Coniq, the leading provider of customer engagement technology for retail destinations. He is an experienced CEO with a passion for market changing disruptive technologies. For over 15 years Ben has focussed on bringing the rigour and measurability of the online retail world into offline businesses, helping retailers and shopping malls understand the true value of their customers. Ben is well known throughout the industry and regularly speaks at industry events such as ICSC, MAPIC and Retail Congress. In 2018, he was awarded CEO of the Year – Retail CRM and Loyalty Solutions by CEO monthly.

Venture Capitalist, Sophisticated Investor, Licensed Financial Consultant, Serial Entrepreneur, and Ex- Corporate Banker.

Ali has been managing his family investments for more than 20 years, and spent 10 years in the Corporate & Institutional banking sector, between ABC Bank, SAMBA, SNB, & Saudi Hollandi Bank, where Ali Abussaud was managing a portfolio in excess of USD 1.5 Billion.

Ali founded Financial Horizon Group in 2014 that provides Financial & management consulting, recruitment and executive search services, & investments. During the same period, Ali co-founded a few other companies and was actively involved in restructuring and advising various private companies in Saudi.

In 2014, Ali also co-founded a Corporate Investment Fund which invested in Private Equity, Real-estate, public equity, and Venture Capital.

In 2018, Ali co-founded HALA Ventures, one of the well valued active venture capital firms in Saudi & MENA region.

Mohammed is an engineer turned engineering manager, turned entrepreneur turned tech investor.  Made numerous investments in both startups and VC funds along the years, 110+ investments and counting.

Currently the Founder & Managing Partner of Nama Ventures, a Venture Capital fund focused on fueling technology innovation in MENA.

A member of many Angel Networks including Sand Hill Angels in Silicon Valley, Founding board member of Riyadh Angel Investors in Riyadh, and an advisor with Woman Spark in KSA.

Mohammed was one of the co-founders of Tech Wadi in Silicon Valley and he’s an advisor to numerous MENA tech incubators, accelerators and startups, and currently sits on numerous startup boards

Mohammed holds an MBA from London Business School and a BS in Electrical & Computer Engineering from Brigham Young University.

Founded in 2012 by Kunal Kapoor, The Luxury Closet is a trusted e-commerce platform for buying and selling pre-loved designer items. What started as a three-member team in his Dubai apartment is now the largest luxury resale marketplace in the Middle East, with a clientele across 80 countries. The Luxury Closet has raised over $30m from leading VCs like MEVP, Wamda Capital, and the founders of Huda Beauty.

Kunal’s foray into retail began when he joined his father to manage the family’s footwear company in India. He then went on to work at Louis Vuitton in Dubai before deciding to start The Luxury Closet.

Kunal has been named one of the top 100 innovators globally by Vogue Business.

Ben is the Founder of a mission driven executive search and talent advisory that is designed to give by supporting children’s charities around the world. Working with CEO’s and Founders of iconic retailers and consumer brands, he helps companies build ESG driven leadership teams, embedding diversity, equity and inclusion while supporting businesses incorporate circularity and transition to net zero.

London born Sujata Assomull is a Dubai based journalist and Author. The founding editor in chief of Harper’s Bazaar India, she previously worked with Khaleej Times as their Group Fashion Editor. An international chronicler of fashion trends, she is a go-to resource in the industry for commentary on the Middle East and the South Asia’s evolving and dynamic markets. A contributing editor for Vogue Business and a columnist for India’s leading business daily, Mint. Her by-lines have appeared in Business of Fashion, South China Morning Post and Arab News, Vogue India, Vogue Arabia, Fast Company Middle East and many more. Sujata is also a regular moderator at both literary and retail related events.

Muzzammil Ahussain is the CEO of Almosafer, Saudi Arabia’s leading travel company. In his role, he is spearheading the growth and development of all travel businesses under the umbrella of Almosafer.

An internationally-recognised management consultant and operations executive, he leverages his vast experience in scaling and optimizing operations to enable sustainable growth and cater to the MENA region’s evolving travel needs through seamless, technology-driven omni-channel experiences.

As a former Senior Manager at Accenture Strategy, Muzzammil has led projects for a range of international clients. He holds an MBA with Distinction from INSEAD and a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of California, Irvine.

Jason joined Deloitte in 2011 and leads Deloitte’s innovation and new services teams across our region. Jason is originally a retailer and has been in Consulting for over 20 years. As a lifelong enthusiast, it is with no hardship whatsoever that he leads Deloitte’s relationship with McLaren Racing. Jason and his team help McLaren race more effectively through the application of advanced analytics, AI and simulation to race strategy and have improved the commercial performance of his clients by applying Formula 1 tools, techniques and technology to corporate and governmental clients.

Dr Martyn Davies is Retail Sector Lead and Head of the City Excellence Division at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City.

He was formerly a Senior Partner at Deloitte (Managing Director of Emerging Markets & Africa) – the world’s largest professional services company. Prior to joining Deloitte, Martyn was a successful entrepreneur having founded Frontier Advisory, a strategy and corporate finance advisory firm that was subsequently acquired by Deloitte. He has worked and lived across almost all continents and has worked with a large number of Fortune 500 companies, leading multinational organizations, and Governments.

As an alumnus of the Young Global Leaders Community of the World Economic Forum and has served on numerous advisory groups at the WEF.

He is a Visiting Professor at IE Business School, Spain, recognized as one of the world’s leading business schools. Martyn was educated at Witwatersrand (Johannesburg), Yonsei (Seoul), Harvard, Yale, Oxford and Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).

Honayda Serafi is a Saudi Arabian fashion designer, educator, spokesperson and philanthropist. She is the first-ever female fashion designer to have launched a Saudi Arabian ready-to-wear clothing brand, ushering her luxury, eponymous fashion house, HONAYDA, into the international market in 2016. Serafi has since become a pioneering creative and entrepreneurial ambassador for the Middle East, championing the leadership of women in the international fashion industry, and expanding contemporary definitions of feminist empowerment globally.

Serafi is a long-standing mentor to women in fashion and the arts, occupying both emissarial and education roles at the highest level of Saudi Arabian cultural exchange and development. She has been recognised within the global fashion industry through numerous awards and far-reaching press coverage, partnering her creative success with an impressive business portfolio of board directorships and advisory roles.

Bhavesh Morar is the Deloitte Middle East Consulting Chief Growth Officer responsible for ensuring that Deloitte delivers the highest levels of service to our clients across the Region and is also the Managing Partner responsible for serving our clients in the Consumer and Retail industry. Previous to this, he led Deloitte’s Middle East Enterprise Technology and Performance practice, which was a team of 250+ consulting practitioners specializing in Technology/Digital Strategy & Transformation, Cloud, Supply Chain, SAP, Oracle, and Finance. He has 20 years of experience acting as a trusted advisor on technology enabled business transformation in the Private and Public Sectors, in the UK and the Middle East.

Roy is a Partner with PwC and leads Consumer Markets for the Deals Strategy & Operations business unit in the Middle East.

Roy has 20 years of strategy and investments experience, as both an industry practitioner and consultant/advisor in the region.

He specializes in advising Sovereign Wealth Funds, Private Equity and Family Businesses with their investment-related decisions by delivering commercial due diligence, market entry/growth strategy and value creation projects across Consumer Market sectors, including Retail, ConsumerTech, Consumer Goods and Agri/Food.

Prior to PwC, he held a number of executive roles in both government and privately owned companies in the region with a focus on strategy and business development and has invested in a number of SMEs.

She is leading Mukatafa’s Advocacy Department overseeing policy reviews, representation of the private sector to the public sector, and ensures the engagement of both sectors in sectoral policy priorities.

At Mukatafa, she has been leading public policy projects with the engagement of the private sector and continues working on promoting cross-sector collaboration.

She has experience working with and representing Arab Youth at the United Nations Security Counil, and Saudi Youth at the United Nations Economic and Social Council’s (ECOSOC) Youth Forum, the United Nations Youth Assembly. She’s a co-founder and the Saudi permeant representative to Arab Youth Platform for Social Development at the League of Arab States.

She has previous experience working with the Ministry of Sports and was a Vice-Chairman for the Saudi Sports for All Federation.

Makram Debbas is a Partner with Strategy& and a member of the firm’s Consumer Markets practice in the Middle East.

Makram has more than 13 years of consulting experience, working mainly with consumer-packaged goods, retail, distribution, and agri companies, advising and them on topics related to growth and investment strategy, turnarounds, operational improvements, and corporate transformation.

In addition to his client work, Makram has authored reports and articles including “How consumer goods companies can future-proof their business with web3”, “How the Middle East can promote agritech”, “Get ready for the future of retail”, “How GCC consumer packaged goods companies and retailers can emerge stronger from the COVID-19 crisis”, and “Opportunities in the GCC food landscape: Strategies for success.”

Makram has a bachelor of science in engineering from the University of Michigan and an MBA from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.

Lee is a subject matter expert in Retail Asset Management, Leasing, Strategy and Planning with a career spanning over 30 years in delivering successful leasing and asset management of some of the largest retail and mixed-use projects in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Qatar, the UK, Australia and China.

As National Director of Retail Portfolio for Roshn, Saudi Arabia’s largest developer of master planned communities and one of the largest Property developers in the World, Lee is responsible for providing the strategy across the entire retail portfolio, which will amount to circa 1.5-2.0 million sqm across Saudi Arabia and is responsible for all aspects of Asset Managing the retail assets including Leasing, Property Management and Marketing.

Prior to joining Roshn, Lee headed up the Leasing & Asset Management of major projects including Yas Mall, Abu Dhabi, Dragon Mart, Dubai, Mall of Qatar, Doha and Msheireb Downtown, Doha.

Lee is a strong advocate for the customer experience in the retail environment and has worked on award winning projects across the Region.

Dina brings 14+ years of experience in marketing strategy, with a specialized focus on consumer research and insights in the MENA region. Her professional background includes roles in media tech, FMCG and retail, within multinational brands and global agencies across the UAE, UK, and Jordan. In the past decade, Dina concentrated on helping brands boost resonance with Saudi audiences through a fact-based and insights-driven approach to marketing and product development. She is a firm proponent of anchoring the consumer’s voice at the heart of key business decisions. Dina has a MSc in Marketing Strategy from the Warwick Business School (WBS) and a BBA with a Communication Minor from the American University of Beirut (AUB).

Hosam is the CEO and Co-founder of Tabby, a technology company headquartered in Riyadh that builds financial and shopping services designed to create financial freedom. Today, millions of users choose Tabby to stay in control of their spending and make the most out of their money. Tabby was valued at $1.5 billion in its last round of funding making it the first fintech unicorn in Saudi Arabia.
Previously, Hosam was CEO and Co-founder of Namshi, the Middle East’s premier online fashion destination which was fully acquired by Emaar Malls in 2019.

Pirakash T drives Figure8’s global expansion as Head of Revenue & Growth, where he oversees the company’s business development and topline revenue streams across the US and international markets.

He also leads the strategic planning and execution of new attraction locations worldwide. He led the launch of Museum of Ice Cream’s first-ever location outside of the United States in Singapore, and subsequently opened its second Asian outpost in Shanghai.

Pirakash’s expertise lies in blending creative vision with data-driven decision-making. A former public servant and entrepreneur, he brings a wealth of experience in tourism, hospitality and fintech. He previously managed investment promotions for the Attractions sector at the Singapore Tourism Board, with prior experience in the Board’s Dining and International Relations sectors. Prior to that, Pirakash co-founded an insurtech startup which was later acquired.

Anna Germanos is a seasoned thought leader in digital transformation in the Consumer Goods Retail & Luxury sectors. She enjoys deep expertise in Consumer & Retail in the Middle East having worked more than 20 years in this space for the largest global technology conglomerates as well as in the management consulting field. Currently Anna is the Group Director of several industries spanning across Consumer Goods, Beauty, Luxury, Retail & Ecommerce at Meta, the social media giant. Prior to joining Meta, she was heading the Consumer Goods practice at Google for MENA. Earlier, Anna spent many years in the Consumer & Retail practice at Booz & company (currently known as Strategy&) where she led assignments for leading private & public clients in the Middle East & Africa across Consumer & Retail. Anna holds an MBA from INSEAD and a bachelor of Engineering from the American University of Beirut with distinction.

As the Co-Founder and KSA CEO, Fawaz manages Kaykroo’s day-to-day activities in the Kingdom and is also heavily involved in the localization process of Kaykroo for the KSA market. He is also actively involved in shaping regulations for the nascent delivery based F&B model and promotion of the model to investors and clients. Fawaz holds an MBA from the Olayyan School of Business at the American University of Beirut (AUB) as well as a BA in Electrical Engineering from Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada.

Franck Guellerin, the Vice President for South & MEA at Mirakl, is a distinguished leader in the tech and e-commerce industries. With over a decade of experience, he has excelled in driving growth and strategic development in international markets, including Europe and the Middle East. Franck’s deep understanding of the industry’s competitive landscape and his innovative approach to business strategy mark him as a key figure in the dynamic world of technology and e-commerce.

Hamza Jeddawi is currently the Chief Experience Development Officer of Saudi Tourism Authority. He is also the founder and CEO of an angel investment company and featured speaker and panelist at various marketing forums and award festivals.

Otto is Senior Vice President, Head of Product, Partnerships and Digital Solutions for the CEMEA region. He is responsible for the design, delivery and performance of Visa’s products and solutions across more than 90 markets. Passionate about digital innovation and design, Otto leads Visa’s development of new solutions to drive the ongoing expansion of the digital payment ecosystem for both regional and global clients. Central to his role is further establishing Visa as the payments partner of choice in the CEMEA region.

Operating at the vanguard of Visa’s strategic development, Otto has forged successful partnerships with FinTechs, MNOs, and multinational eCommerce brands, device providers, and technology platforms such as Samsung, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, Pinterest, eBay, Fitbit, and Garmin, among others. This has paved the way for the launch of global programs including Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Android Pay, Fitbit Pay and Microsoft Wallet that enable Visa Tokenization, Visa Ready Partner Program and Visa Checkout Open Platform.

Raffaella Campagnoli is the Chief Strategy Officer at Majid Al Futtaim Retail. Her team lead all-inclusive strategic priorities to be implemented across the portfolio, translating these into actions and clear performance indicators. In order to orchestrate strategy and execution, she also oversees the Transformation and Corporate Development functions.

Raffaella brings more than 20 years’ experience in the Retail, Consumer and Travel industries where she has led significant transformation programmes across the US, Europe, Turkey, Singapore and Middle East. She joins us from her own boutique strategy firm LIRA Strategy Partners, which was aimed at accelerating business ecosystems. Prior to this, she spent 14 years as Managing Director of Accenture Strategy, operating across Europe, Asia, Middle East and Turkey.

Raffaella holds a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Strategy from SDA Bocconi, Italy, and multiple training programmes from INSEAD and Cornell University.

A trailblazer in leadership, Abir brings forth over two decades of experience in pivotal roles involving Operations and Strategic Decision Making. Her expertise spans Corporate, Private and non-Profit sectors, covering Luxury Retail, Trade, Sales, Marketing, Consumer Insights, Consulting, Investments, Real Estate Development, Banking, Agriculture and Manufacturing.

Abir excels in forming Cross organizational coalitions across various stakeholders and managing diverse and potentially competitive interests to roll out initiatives, maximize impact and ensure sustainability. She has a track record of providing inspirational leadership and direction to cross functional teams and ensuring the continued development and efficiency.

Abir’s leadership style is inherently entrepreneurial, characterized by a track record of successfully restructuring and establishing organizational functions. She has held notable positions, including General Manager of Estee Lauder Companies Saudi and Secretary General of Alwaleed Philanthropies leading projects locally, regionally and globally. Her thought leadership has earned her positions as a Board Member in several esteemed establishments.

Yousef Akbar, an artist at heart since childhood, possessed an innate desire to express himself and weave captivating tales through his creations. However, growing up in a conservative Saudi family during the 90s, the notion of becoming an artist or a male womenswear designer seemed utterly unimaginable, beyond the realms of his wildest dreams.

Driven by a profound fascination with the interplay between fabric and the human form, Yousef Akbar dares to challenge conventions in the cutting and construction of garments, all while preserving an air of elegance and femininity. Yousef Akbar is a testament to the power of chasing one’s dreams, defying societal expectations, and infusing creativity into every facet of life.

In 2020, Yousef Akbar he won the esteemed Fashion Trust Arabia Eveningwear Prize. Since then, his brand has been steadily growing, attracting buyers and private clients worldwide. Notable celebrities such as Nicole Kidman, Sharon Stone, Alicia Keys, Rita Ora, Chrissy Teigen, and Karolina Kurkova have graced red carpets in Yousef Akbar.

Hala Zgeib, Head of Luxury at Snap MENA, combines her passion for retail with Snap’s cutting edge technology to support retail conglomerates with the development of successful digital strategies. A veteran retailer, Hala is known for driving exponential growth for omnichannel businesses. Hala spent the last 15 years honing her craft with some of the world’s largest luxury retail groups. Hala is a member of Connecting Women in Technology (CWIT), focused on promoting initiatives in support of the development of women in the technology industry.

Miglena Zivkovic, General Manager Make Up For Ever MEA at LVMH, is a luxury and consumer goods expert, a beauty and makeup lover, with a strong passion for retail and more than 15 years of international experience with some of the world’s largest beauty companies. She has a proven track record of delivering omnichannel growth and building desired brands, translating global strategies to local success stories.

Waleed N. F. Al Saud is the founder and CEO of Mukatafa. He has over 30 years of experience within the Saudi private sector. In 2016, he helped organize the first private-sector assembly, which led to policy changes. Today, Prince Waleed is leading Mukatafa to mobilize major industries that impact Saudi Arabia’s GDP and unify their voice for maximum impact. Also, he is working with the public sector to improve the quality of legislation to help the growth of the business, reduce the cost of doing business and increase the level of doing business. His proudest achievement is bringing together an exceptional team of young females and males, helping realize V2030’s goals.

Hani holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Electronics and Computer Technology 1995 from Arab Academy for Science and Technology, Alexandria, Egypt. He is Leveraging 27 years of experience in technology and business with a successful proven track record of Digital Transformation projects, eCommerce, and building capabilities with many retailers as head of technology and as System Consultant and delivering end to end Retail solutions.

Hani joined eXtra as Head of IT in 2003. Currently, as the CIO of eXtra and in charge of strategic direction, leadership, and implementation of the company’s digital transformation initiatives that enable the business in Extra to grow and to deliver the best customer experience.

Hani is an active contributor and Speaker in technology seminars and forums that discuss user usability and technology road map.

As the Co-founder and CSO of Akinon, Cagri has played a pivotal role in shaping the company’s trajectory and establishing it as a leading force in the global digital commerce landscape.

In his role as CSO, Cagri has the distinct pleasure of engaging in meaningful discussions about the ever-evolving world of digital commerce with brands from around the globe. His expertise lies in crafting strategic solutions that empower these brands to not only navigate but also excel in the fiercely competitive digital commerce arena.

Akinon serves brands in 17 countries, providing a cloud-native, composable digital commerce platform that enables them to engage in commerce without limits.

As the General Manager of Chalhoub Group’s Luxury Tech division, Ramit leads Devialet and Dyson in the Middle East’s competitive luxury market. Devialet, a Comité Colbert member, exemplifies French acoustical engineering and luxury, while Dyson stands out for innovative home appliances. Both brands highlight the luxury tech sector’s emphasis on advanced technology and exceptional design

Previously, at HTC for 11 years as VP & Head of MEA, Ramit was pivotal in the evolution of smartphones and the advancement of VR technology with the HTC Vive series, offering realistic graphics and HD haptic feedback. His tenure marked significant product launches and explored AR and VR, collaborating with prestigious entities like Burj Khalifa, McLaren and Dubai Future Foundation. These experiences have allowed Ramit to contribute meaningfully to the technological innovations that enrich our digital world today.

Engineer Faisal Abdulrahman Al-Nasser, a graduate of King Saud University, Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science, has 23 years of experience, through which he has overseen leadership positions in many Saudi banks and financial institutions.

He is currently the CEO of Company, one of the most important real estate companies in the area of investment, development and operation of commercial income-generating real estate and the first companies on the Saudi stock market since 2016.

Jassem is a key advocate to creating investments that bring value to investors, clients and society.

In 2001, Jassem’s career started primarily with exposure to large and unique commercial developments and special governmental buildings. He studied and approved proposals for Kuwait Municipality as an Engineer to then become the youngest Unit Head for their most important department – The Directorial of Engineering Regulations & Special approvals. He was also the driving force behind digitalizing the Municipality’s permitting system, assisting to create a web-based submission system.

After three years, Jassem has moved from the public sector to join one of the most prominent companies in Kuwait and the GCC – the Boodai Corporation. Jassem helped this esteemed, afore-mentioned corporation through holding many positions in its different subsidiaries and taking on multiple tasks from Engineering & Project Management to administrative & Business management.

He was The Group Projects Manager involved in managing projects such as ALRAI TV/NEWSPAPER HQ and Studios.

Chief commercial officer at ” Ezdihar Real Estate Development Company” since February 2022, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

He served as Chief  Commercial Officer at the Saudi Real Estate Company “Al AKaria ” between 2020 and 2022, and CEO of ” Ezdihar Real Estate Development Company” during 2019 He also held several positions at ” Arabian Centers Company”, Chief Leasing Officer between 2014 and 2020, , Executive Vice President of the Leasing Sector during 2019, Advisor to the Director General for leasing Affairs between 2018 and 2019, Head of Sales and leasing between 2011 and 2014.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in public communications in 2006 from the American University in Cairo, and completed the Finance. Program for Executive Leaders at Harvard Business School.

Carlos is a partner with PwC’s Tax practice, based in Dubai since October 2013, with more than 19 years of professional experience. He leads the Customs and International Trade practice for the Middle East region. Carlos regularly advises GCC Governments on Customs Transformation and has advised regional Governments on Excise Tax implementation and International Trade affairs.

With our private sector clients, Carlos focuses on supply chain restructuring an optimization, valuation, air, sea and land clearance processes, customs duty reliefs and exemptions, market entry assessments and customs disputes and litigation. Carlos is a speaker in Customs & International Trade events in the region and a member of the Madrid Bar Association.

Guido Lubbers joined PwC beginning 2022 and is currently the Middle East Consumer Markets Leader,  KSA TLS COO, as well as the Client Lead Tax Partner.

Guido is an international indirect tax expert with over 25 years of experience in Global & Regional indirect tax advisory projects, working for multinational companies, Global & regional Business Transformations (new businesses, supply chain, entity reduction, Shared Services Centers) and Technology (ERP & data analytics), Indirect tax strategy projects. He is also a valuable Speaker at international conferences, external events of business partners and Universities.

Education and Qualifications: *Master’s degree in Business Administration – University of Nyenrode – Netherlands *Master’s degree in Law and Tax– University of Amsterdam – Netherlands

Pioneering FMCG Expert with a 24-Year Global Symphony

Bassel Elshaboury, a leading expert in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry, whose journey spans an impressive 24 years of shaping brands and steering innovation. Currently at the helm as the Head of Marketing for Henkel Consumer Brands across the vibrant High Growth region (LATAM, MEA,

Central Asia, ANZ), Bassel is also the Vice President for Henkel’s operations in Africa. Bassel’s career is a rich blend of communication and innovative marketing, leading brands to new heights. Beyond the boardroom, he has skillfully crafted success stories as a General Manager and Regional Head, adeptly managing Country P&Ls. An expert of strategic leadership, Bassel previously served as the Vice President of Value Laundry Brands at Henkel’s Headquarters in Dusseldorf, Germany, contributing to the company’s global success. What sets Bassel apart is his knack for combining creativity and business acumen. His dynamic leadership style not only navigates diverse markets but also resonates with a universal audience.

Zachary is a partner on the transfer pricing team in PwC’s Riyadh office.  He has over 18 years of experience in the private and public sectors.  He has advised multi-nationals on various transfer pricing engagements including planning, documentation, dispute resolution, and transaction advisory.  During his tenure with PwC, he has gained a broad breadth of experience working in different markets including New York, London, and San Francisco. Zachary has recently assisted a major F&B company in resolving a transfer pricing dispute in Egypt and an FMG company with their transfer pricing audit in Saudi Arabia. From a planning perspective, Zachary has advised clients in setting up their transfer pricing policies, optimising their transfer pricing business models by way of implementing franchise fee / principal structures, conversion into a contract manufacturer / limited risk distributor, etc. In addition, Zachary has extensive experience on dispute resolution right from advising his clients on formulating audit defense and litigation strategies including MAPs, and also assisting them on APA projects.

Fahed Ghanim is the CEO of Majid Al Futtaim – Lifestyle. In his role, Ghanim manages world renowned brands across Home, Fashion, Beauty, Specialty Retail, and Multiband Concepts, while developing omnichannel expansion strategies for high growth markets and new concepts.

Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle has more than 70 stores and 20 digital platforms across the GCC region and holds exclusive licensing rights for lululemon, LEGO, Abercrombie & Fitch, Hollister, AllSaints, Psycho Bunny, Eleventy, Shiseido, Poltrona Frau, Cecotti, Alessi, Crate & Barrel, CB2 and THAT, a Majid Al Futtaim multi brand concept store and app.

Recognised as an authority in the Middle East retail landscape, Ghanim is a sought-after speaker at industry events throughout the region. His expertise lies in growth hacking and turnarounds, including the successful transformation and IPO of L’azurde PLC, a prominent Saudi-based jewelry company, marking his third business turnaround during his career. Most recently, Ghanim has achieved unprecedented success as CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle, quadrupling the business since assuming the role five years ago.

Panos Linardos is the Executive Director of the New York Institute of Management and Chairman of Retail Leaders Circle. Panos leads the retail, consumer goods, tech, media and sports practice at NYIM and has advised and worked with the chief executives and founders of some of the world’s leading commerce and tech-enabled companies in a variety of areas, including strategy, business transformation, global opportunities, and the launch of several market-shaping innovations.

Panos has an active travel schedule, discussing research findings with CEOs and other executives at international Fortune 500 companies, and is a frequent speaker on those topics as well as on broader global trends. At NYIM, Panos is known for his work on promoting innovative human capital development practices and maximizing ROI on organizational transformation, talent, and strategy initiatives for leading consumer-facing clients.

Prior to NYIM, Panos held various leadership positions in corporate strategy and finance with WestRock Company. Throughout his career he has collaborated with technologists, business leaders and policymakers on taskforces and commissions on how disruption is catalyzing growth and economic development.