The global home of elevated retail  

Kristina Blahnik

CEO

Manolo Blahnik

For more than a decade, Kristina Blahnik has led Manolo Blahnik, guiding the family business through international growth while protecting Manolo’s legacy and unique creative identity. As chief executive, she combines strategic leadership with a commitment to the brand’s creativity craftsmanship.

Kristina’s guiding principle is “to optimise, not maximise.” This long-term approach has shaped the company’s expansion from two boutiques to a global retail network, with a focus on markets including the Middle East, Asia and North America. In 2024, Blahnik led Manolo Blahnik’s entry into mainland China, opening a flagship in Shanghai and establishing a wholly foreign-owned enterprise. A joint venture in Hong Kong supported the opening of three further stores, strengthening the brand’s presence in Asia.

Blahnik’s training as an architect informs her attention to detail and ability to blend precision with creativity. She contributed to the brand’s evolution, including the design of its first exhibition at London’s Design Museum in 2003. Today, she works closely with her uncle, founder and creative director Manolo Blahnik, on each collection. In 2021, she launched the Manolo Blahnik Archives, a virtual platform marking the company’s 50th anniversary and inviting audiences to explore its history and designs.

Kristina has championed collaborations that introduce the house to new audiences. Projects with Rihanna, Birkenstock and most recently Balenciaga have brought Manolo Blahnik’s craftsmanship into fresh creative contexts.

In 2022, Blahnik established the Manolo Blahnik Foundation to support mental health, animal welfare, emerging creative talent and humanitarian causes. The company received Great Place to Work certification in 2024, reflecting her commitment to a supportive and inclusive workplace. During her tenure, the business grew from 10 full-time employees to more than 250 by the end of 2024.

Gonzague de Pirey

Chief Omnichannel and Data Officer

LVMH

Gonzague de Pirey is Chief Omnichannel and Data Officer at LVMH. In his role, he leads the deployment of artificial intelligence across the Group’s entire value chain. After serving as an adviser on social affairs in the French Prime Minister’s Office from 2004 to 2007, he joined Saint-Gobain, where he held several senior leadership positions in Paris, Shanghai and Moscow. In 2016, he became CEO of the Lapeyre Group, before joining LVMH in 2020 to lead Sephora Germany and subsequently the Maison’s New Ventures. He was appointed to his current role in 2023.

Elisa Sorgi

President, Middle East

Miu Miu

Elisa Sorgi is President of Miu Miu Middle East, where she leads the brand’s strategic growth across one of the world’s most dynamic luxury markets. With more than two decades of experience in luxury fashion, retail, merchandising, and business strategy, she has played a key role in strengthening Miu Miu’s presence in the region and deepening engagement with a new generation of luxury consumers.
Prior to joining Miu Miu, Elisa held senior leadership positions with renowned luxury businesses including Fendi, Chalhoub Group, and The Luxury Closet, as well as strategic consulting roles with Bain & Company. Her career has been defined by a deep understanding of luxury retail, client experience, and brand development across global and regional markets.
Combining strategic vision with extensive industry expertise, Elisa brings valuable insights into the evolving luxury landscape, changing consumer behaviors, and the future of luxury in the Middle East.
 

Mona Kattan

Founder & CEO

KAYALI

Paige Adams-Geller

Founder & Creative Director

PAIGE

Alex Schellenberger

Chief Brand and Marketing Officer

Mandarin Oriental

Mark Blundell

Chief Retail Officer

Harrods

Peter Wood

CEO

AllSaints

Juliette Streichenberger

President, EMEA

Canada Goose

HH Princess Noura Faisal Al Saud

CEO

JAY3LLE

After successfully leading high-profile, large-scale projects in Saudi Arabia, including the Kingdom’s first-ever Fashion Week, Her Highness Princess Noura bint Faisal Al Saud joined the Ministry of Culture’s Fashion Commission, where she shaped the nation’s fashion industry strategy and launched Saudi Arabia’s first fashion mentorship programs. In 2022, she transitioned back to the private sector, founding Culture House, a creative agency specializing in cultural activations and innovative communication solutions. Recognized for her leadership, she was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in 2023 and appointed Chairwoman of the Forbes Middle East Women’s Summit. In 2024, Al Othaim Investment appointed her as Advisor to the Group CEO and later CEO of Al Othaim Culture, where she spearheaded fashion and cultural initiatives. That same year, Princess Noura was recognized among the BOF 500, the definitive index of global fashion leaders, further solidifying her influence in the industry. After completing her mission with Al Othaim in early 2025, she resumed her role as CEO of Culture House, continuing her work in driving cultural innovation and creative strategies. Now, as the founder of Culture House, Princess Noura has also been appointed CEO of JAY3LLE, a progressive luxury brand with a global vision. In this role, she is shaping the brand’s strategy and growth, bringing her deep expertise in fashion and culture. Building on JAY3LLE’s unique positioning at the intersection of fashion, sport, and lifestyle, she is also championing the brand’s connection to golf, a sport that embodies elegance, community, and global ambition. Under her leadership, JAY3LLE is set to redefine what a Saudi-born luxury brand can represent, both on and off the course.

Krishna Nikhil

CEO

Hunza G

Thabet Musleh

Chief Retail & Hospitality Officer

Qatar Airways

Davide Cotroneo

Chief Operating Officer, Japan

Moncler

Senior executive in luxury industry, with experience in leadership positions throughout Asia, i.e. Japan (Gucci and Moncler Group) to Korea (Gucci) and Greater China (Bottega Veneta). Thanks to direct management of both back-office and commercial functions, deeply connected to major Asian luxury developers and firmly interested in better understanding the specificities of all major Asian markets.

Francesco Bottigliero

Chief of Humanistic Technology

Foro delle Arti & Brunello Cucinelli

Francesco Bottigliero is the Chief of Humanistic Technology at Brunello Cucinelli and Foro delle Arti, the group’s holding company, whose mission is to discover, nurture, and invest in new technologies, ideas, and projects with a focus on human sustainability. He is also the CEO of Solomei AI, the research company established by the group to explore and develop new AI-driven initiatives.

Francesco has served as iCEO at Brunello Cucinelli for more than a decade. Since joining the fashion house in April 2012, he has led all digital projects, including B2C and B2B e-commerce, cross-channel initiatives, and digital marketing strategy, while also overseeing ICT and innovation.

Before this role, he was Chief Executive Officer of e-Pitti.com, part of the Pitti Immagine Group, where he worked to transform the trade show industry through digital technologies. From 2003 to 2010, Francesco was Managing Director and partner at Kora, an international digital agency with offices in Milan, Paris, and Barcelona. Earlier, he served as Chief Executive Officer at Altoprofilo (2000–2003), as a management consultant at Bossard–Cap Gemini, and as a junior product manager at L'Oréal.

Francesco holds a degree in Economics and Business Administration from Bocconi University.

Leonie Foster

Chief Operating Officer

Selfridges

Mahmoud El Salahy

CEO

A Bathing Ape

Miral Youssef

President

Middle East & Africa, Kering

Miral Youssef is the President of Kering Middle East & Africa, based in Dubai, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the Group’s strategic vision, growth trajectory, and brand presence across a diverse and fast-evolving region.

With a deep understanding of the market and a passion for excellence, Miral’s mission is to unlock growth opportunities and forge authentic connections with local communities and strategic partners, accelerating the expansion of Kering’s Houses across eight countries in the Middle East and Africa. Miral is known for amplifying Kering’s collective voice while navigating the dynamic intersection of global luxury leadership and regional cultural depth.

In addition to championing brand authenticity, she fosters a strong sense of community and engagement within the Group both internally and externally in alignment with Kering’s long-term values and purpose-driven vision.

Miral joined Kering in 2019 as the Middle East General Manager at Balenciaga, where she led the brand’s establishment and growth across four countries, successfully overseeing all business operations in the region until 2023.

She brings a distinguished career in the luxury industry, marked by strategic leadership and innovation.

Before joining Kering, she held roles at internationally renowned fashion houses including Vivienne Westwood, Theory, and Ralph Lauren in the UK, where she contributed to brand development and market positioning.

Her journey then led her to Chalhoub Group, a leading luxury retailer in the Middle East, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the regional retail landscape. There, she oversaw commercial and franchise operations for a portfolio of prestigious brands, while also spearheading new retail concepts and driving business development initiatives across the Group.

Miral is deeply committed to mentoring and empowering women in the early stages of their careers, actively supporting initiatives that champion female leadership and foster professional growth within the industry.

Her commitment to nurturing the next generation of talent extends well beyond her executive role.

She also serves on several advisory boards including the Arab Fashion Council and Heriot-Watt University, where she contributes her expertise to advancing education and the future of the luxury and fashion industries.

Born in London, Miral holds a Master’s degree in Fashion Culture and Media from the London College of Fashion.