Speakers

Daniel Grieder

CEO Hugo Boss

Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

He is responsible for Company Strategy, Global Marketing, Creative Direction, Global Product Development, Licenses Management, HR as well as Corporate Communications.

Daniel Grieder was born in Washington, D.C., USA, in 1961. While studying at the University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration in Zurich (HWZ Hochschule für Wirtschaft) he founded Max Trade Service AG in 1985 (later renamed Madison Clothing Ltd.), which, in addition to manufacturing and selling leatherwear to leading department stores throughout Switzerland, also distributed internationally renowned brands such as Pepe Jeans, Tommy Hilfiger, Stone Island and C.P. Company in Switzerland, Austria and Eastern Europe.

With the launch of the American brand Tommy Hilfiger in the European market in 1997, Grieder was largely responsible for the successful establishment of Tommy Hilfiger there over the following years. In 2004, Daniel Grieder was named Vice President of Commercial Operations at Tommy Hilfiger Europe, and two years later as Chief Operating Officer and President Tommy Hilfiger Europe. This was followed by his appointment as Chief Executive Officer Tommy Hilfiger Europe in 2008. After the integration of the Tommy Hilfiger brand into the Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) Corporation in 2010, Grieder became Chief Executive Officer and President of Tommy Hilfiger Global and PVH Europe in 2014.

In June 2021, Daniel Grieder joined the HUGO BOSS AG Managing Board as Chief Executive Officer.

Grieder is married, has two sons and lives in Switzerland.

Kristina Blahnik

CEO Manolo Blahnik

For over a decade, Kristina Blahnik has led Manolo Blahnik with a rare balance of creative vision and strategic acumen, ensuring the brand’s enduring global success while preserving its artisanal heritage. As CEO, she champions the principle “to optimise, not maximise,” guiding the company toward responsible, long-term growth. Under her leadership, Manolo Blahnik has expanded from two to twenty boutiques worldwide, with major growth in the Middle East, Asia, and North America. In 2024, she oversaw the brand’s launch in mainland China with a flagship in Shanghai and a new Wholly Foreign Owned Enterprise, alongside a Hong Kong joint venture that opened three additional stores...marking a defining moment in the brand’s expansion across Asia.

A trained architect, Kristina brings a refined design sensibility to her leadership. She first contributed to the brand’s creative journey through the 2003 Design Museum exhibition and continues to collaborate closely with her uncle, Manolo Blahnik, on every collection. Her proudest initiative, the Manolo Blahnik Archives launched in 2021, celebrates the brand’s 50-year legacy through an award-winning digital storytelling platform with over one million visitors.

Kristina has also driven acclaimed collaborations, including partnerships with Rihanna, Vetements, and Birkenstock, which expanded the brand’s cultural relevance and audience. A strong advocate for social responsibility, she founded the Manolo Blahnik Foundation in 2022 to champion mental health, animal welfare, and creative education. Under her guidance, the company earned Great Place to Work certification and grew to over 250 employees, all while preserving its core values of creativity, craftsmanship, and family.

Michael Chalhoub

CEO Chalhoub Group

Michael Chalhoub is the Chief Executive Officer of Chalhoub Group, the leading luxury partner across the Middle East. Under his leadership, the

Group is committed to delivering Vision 2033 through innovation, growth, and global expansion.

Since joining Chalhoub Group, Michael has transformed the Group’s strategy, driving diversification into new categories, expanding into untapped regions, and revitalizing the investment portfolio. He has also strengthened joint venture partnerships, creating a solid foundation for sustained growth.

Michael’s vision focuses on balancing growth with operational excellence. He is dedicated to expanding the Group's proprietary brands internationally while enhancing its portfolio through strategic acquisitions.

Strengthening existing partnerships remains central to his strategy, solidifying Chalhoub Group’s position as a regional leader with a global presence.

An entrepreneur at heart, Michael has launched several startups, including Sport360, a leading media group in the GCC that grew to a 75-person organization generating over $10M in annual revenues within just four years. He also supported multiple ventures through the Harvard Innovation Lab.

Before becoming CEO, Michael served as President of Joint Ventures and Strategy, Growth, Innovation, and Investment at Chalhoub Group with prior roles at L’Oréal USA, Michael Kors, and in consulting.

Michael is a Harvard Business School MBA Baker Scholar and holds master's degrees in Finance and International Affairs from Paris Dauphine University.

Elie Barnes

Chief Marketing & Digital Officer Bremont Watch Company

Elie Barnes is a creative and strategic leader with a proven track record of integrated marketing excellence and digital innovation in an ever-changing consumer landscape.

With over 17 years of experience, a decade of which within the luxury sector, with LVMH // Bang & Olufsen and Bremont Watch Company, leading Global Marketing // brand strategy development, digital transformation, revolutionary product launches and strategic partnerships, Elie has a dynamic and unique understanding and appreciation for consumer marketing and communication strategies.

Elie is passionate team and people leader, who strives to ignite excitement and possibility among people from all corners of the world then inspire them to contribute their best work. As a lifelong athlete, having competed on the international sporting stage for 15 years, Elie works with a firm belief in the power of a team and a fierce commitment to bring out the best in each player.

Julie Bourgeois

Global President ANINE BING

ANINE BING has announced Julie Bourgeois as the brand’s first Global President who will work alongside the executive team and lead the company through its next stage of growth and focus on its global position.

Bourgeois will drive continued profitable growth for the brand's key revenue channels including Wholesale, Retail and Ecommerce while working closely with the teams on building out innovative brand marketing opportunities and robust omnichannel strategies for the brand. Bourgeois is a distinguished executive with extensive experience in the global fashion and luxury retail sectors. She has previously held high profile roles at prestigious companies such as LVMH, Richemont, Four Seasons, Nespresso, Khaite, and Jacadi. Julie possesses a unique expertise in both luxury hospitality and lifestyle retail brands globally. In her most recent role as Senior Vice President, Global Head of Retail, and Global Head of Experiential Signature, Julie led the transformation of retail and experiential strategies, driving significant profitability and growth. Notably, she enhanced the retail experience across 130 properties worldwide, driving substantial revenue growth and increasing brand visibility both online and on-site. Julie also led the successful launch of the Four Seasons at Home Collection, further solidifying the brand's position as a global luxury leader by reaching guests in innovative ways. Previously, as CEO of Jacadi America, Julie achieved remarkable brand growth and successfully led the acquisitions of Catimini and Absorba

“We are truly excited to welcome Julie to ANINE BING. Julie is a highly accomplished executive with exceptional experience in the luxury sector and I look forward to working with her as we continue to drive the great momentum of our business globally,”– Nico Bing, Co-Founder and CEO “Julie understands the ANINE BING woman and completely embodies the brand; she has impeccable taste and is an incredible business leader with a proven track record of success. We are delighted to have her join the ANINE BING team,”– Anine Bing, Founder and Chief Creative Officer

“I am thrilled to join ANINE BING as Global President. With its innovative spirit and strong culture, I see incredible potential for international growth. I look forward to collaborating with our incredible founders and talented teams to drive our shared vision forward,”– Julie Bourgeois, Global President

Bourgeois will be based in Paris and will also play a significant role in building out the ANINE BING team in Europe. The new ANINE BING office in Paris will open this month. This follows the opening of the Brand’s second office in the US, located in NYC, which officially opened in May 2024.

Bourgeois will start on June 3rd and will report directly to Nico Bing, Co-Founder and CEO.

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.

Bettina Goesele

Chief Digital Officer Victoria Beckham Beauty

Bettina Goesele is a seasoned digital and marketing executive with over 15 years of experience driving high-impact brand strategies across luxury, beauty and lifestyle industries. As Chief Digital Officer at Victoria Beckham Beauty, Bettina leads the brand’s digital roadmap, overseeing e-commerce, integrated marketing, creative and customer experience to elevate brand desirability and global growth. Prior to this role, she held senior marketing positions at global players including L’Oréal, LVMH and Sotheby’s Auction House, where she honed her ability to merge storytelling and data-driven activation in high-stakes luxury environments.

Bettina draws on her experience to explore how social and digital signals can serve as strategic levers to stay ahead of evolving consumer expectations. With a global perspective, Bettina helps luxury brands translate heritage and craftsmanship into digital-first experiences that engage, convert and retain the discerning customer.

Alexis Mourot

CEO Christian Louboutin

Alexis Mourot is the embodiment of modern leadership, combining high standard expectations with empathy and a profound desire to pass skills and knowledge on. An impassioned globetrotter, he joined Christian Louboutin in 2007 and is aiming to make the iconic French red-soled brand an essential luxury player on the international stage. Under his governance, the house has undergone spectacular growth and now has 165 stores in 40 countries.

He is also leading the brand’s development, having now extended its universe to adapt to new lifestyles without ever forgetting its artisanal heritage and the exceptional know-how which made its reputation. Christian Louboutin today is an influential luxury accessories brand. It generates 95% of its turnover outside France.

Educated in finance at the University of Paris-Dauphine, Alexis has had an atypical career. During his studies, he explored the working world and became assistant brand manager for Canard Duchêne and Veuve Clicquot champagnes. This experience rooted in him a love of know-how and the finest creations.

It was in the United States that, over five years, he refined his international expertise in the luxury goods sector, first at Yves Saint Laurent then in the LVMH group. He played an active part in integrating iconic brands, such as Christian Lacroix, Kenzo, Loewe 1 into the “LVMH Fashion Group US”, and was actively involved with the integration and restructuring of the Donna Karan International brand. This American interlude is a marker of his career.

He then contributed to developing Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs and successfully opened the brand’s European office, which he headed for three years from 2004 to 2007.

An adept and respectful negotiator, his expertise in finance, combined with a passion for commercial development and the conquest of international markets gives him a global perspective and a great openness to the world.

Attentive to others, a low-key personality, an impassioned worker, Alexis Mourot is known for his ability to bring people together, supporting them and adding momentum. “I am particularly proud of my teams. My executive board is made up of talented, strong, loyal and committed teamplayers. Together, we are building an ambitious and sustainable future”. He makes a point of honor of transmitting skills and knowledge and encouraging the growth of the talent around him.

In addition, infused with a deep passion for the entrepreneurial spirit, a business angel at heart, he invests into several ventures and participates as a Board Member of “Moon Venture”, a club of investors whose ambition is to finance and accompany innovative and high-potential startups.

Alexis also sits as a Board Member of French Organization MEDEF Paris. He appreciates meeting with inspirational business leaders who have arisen from a variety of sectors. He is also a member of the Comité Colbert, where he is actively committed to enhancing the international reach of the French luxury-goods sector, and to the preservation and transmission of French know-how, combining heritage and modernity.

Marco Parsiegla

CEO Amouage

Marco Parsiegla is the Chief Executive Officer of Amouage, the independent Omani high perfumery house renowned for crafting some of the most coveted fragrances in the world. Through his deep understanding of brand building and his strategic business acumen, Parsiegla has positioned Amouage as a beacon of craftsmanship, pushing the boundaries of olfactory excellence. With a rich heritage rooted in Oman and its globally celebrated artistry in creating evocative, nuanced fragrances, Amouage, under Parsiegla’s leadership, became one of the fastest growing houses in high perfumery, as it continues to push the bounderies of the industry, blending tradition with modernity.

Before taking the helm at Amouage in 2019, Parsiegla held numerous influential roles in the luxury and consumer goods sectors. Notably, he was the Global Vice President of the Prestige division at Procter & Gamble, where he managed some of the world’s most iconic fragrance and beauty brands including Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, and Alexander McQueen. The role further strengthened his expertise in the luxury fragrance segment and also allowed him to spearhead innovative strategies that significantly grew Procter & Gamble’s market share and brand equity in the high-end beauty space.

Parsiegla’s leadership journey continued with an impactful tenure as Executive Vice President for Luxury & Consumer Goods at the global communications group Havas, with development of digital marketing strategies, leading global client acquisitions, and facilitating capacity building across the total value chain. His experience in leveraging media to build brand narratives has equipped him with a unique perspective on consumer behavior, digital transformation, and brand communication in a rapidly-evolving marketplace.

In addition to his role as Chief Executive Officer of Amouage, Parsiegla serves as a Board Member at Kampos, an Italian-born luxury sustainable luxury swimwear brand. His involvement with Kampos underscores his commitment to purpose-driven luxury and environmental responsibility. It also reflects his belief in the future of brands that are deeply rooted in sustainability and ethical practices.

At Amouage, Parsiegla continues to build on his legacy of excellence, innovation, and brand stewardship, ensuring that the high perfumery house remains at the forefront of the luxury fragrance industry while contributing to Oman’s international prestige and cultural narrative. Under his leadership, Amouage is not only honoring its Omani roots but also embracing global aspirations.

Parsiegla holds a Master’s degree in Industrial Engineering and Economics from the University of Germany. He is also a graduate from the Harvard Business School.

Graziano de Boni

CEO Diane Von Furstenberg

Graziano is an accomplished executive with over twenty-five years of senior leadership in the fashion, luxury, and retail industries. A forward and dynamic thinker, Graziano has successfully led several companies through growth trajectories or turnaround phases, always with the goal of building long term brand equity value. As Global President of Valentino, Graziano was instrumental in turning around the business, starting accessories, and launched Valentino.com in 2003 pioneering luxury e-commerce. At Prada Americas, he initiated the direct-to-consumer vision, and as CEO of Armani Americas, he developed a simplified brand and product strategy that embraced technologies with predictive analytics at the center. Engaged in 2023 to evaluate the future of DVF, as CEO of Diane von Furstenberg he has successfully brought back in-house the global business, setting up a unique and disruptive digital-first business model centered on design, brand narrative and the consumer.

Sapna Parikh

Chief Digital Officer Kendo Brands

Chief Digital Officer, Kendo Brands, LVMH (Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, Fenty Hair, Ole Henriksen and Lip Lab)

Sapna is the Chief Digital Officer at Kendo Brands, LVMH (Portfolio of brands include Fenty Beauty, Fenty Skin, Fenty Hair, Ole Henriksen & Lip Lab) bringing over 25 years of Digital & Omni-Channel retail experience.

Sapna’s expertise is in building high-performing digital teams and driving step change growth through digital innovation. Sapna previously built digital organizations at both Avon and Clarins Groupe but has spent most of her career at high-growth e-commerce start-ups.

As a true pioneer in the industry, Sapna has been profiled in countless media outlets including, Forbes.com and on the cover of Beauty Store Business, has won numerous awards, and has been invited to share her experiences on many stages.

Luigi Caterino

Founder & CEO The Longevity Suite

Luigi Caterino is a chemical engineer and visionary entrepreneur in the fields of longevity, wellness, and health innovation.

With over 20 years of experience in the pharmaceutical industry, he founded The Longevity Suite in 2019 — Europe’s most advanced network of anti-aging and biohacking city clinics.

Combining cutting-edge technologies, scientific diagnostics, and personalized protocols, TLS enhances cellular health, metabolic balance, and human performance.

With more than 40 locations across Italy, Switzerland, Spain, Turkey, and the Middle East, TLS is at the forefront of the global health optimization movement.

Luigi is also the creator of The Longevity Kitchen and The Longevity Spa, innovative concepts developed in collaboration with leading luxury hotels, bringing the science of longevity into the worlds of nutrition, hospitality, and transformational wellness.

Rajesh Shanmugasundaram

Chief Technology Officer Breitling

As a Global Chief Technology Officer with nearly two decades of experience, Rajesh has led transformative digital, technology, and data initiatives across the world’s most prestigious luxury fashion, retail, and consumer goods brands. Known for driving measurable commercial impact, he has consistently accelerated D2C growth, increased digital revenue share, and enhanced operational performance through end-to-end modernization of ERP, supply chain, and CRM ecosystems.

A recognized leader in digital commerce, omnichannel experience, and AI-driven personalization, Rajesh has built and scaled global technology architectures that fuse innovation with business value. With deep expertise in data strategy and applied AI, he champions the use of advanced analytics to optimize customer engagement and inform smarter, faster decision-making.

Combining strategic vision with commercial acumen, Rajesh ensures technology investments translate into tangible growth, enhanced customer experiences, and EBITDA improvement. Having operated across both mono-brand and multi-brand global groups, He is a trusted partner to C-level executives, driving technology transformation that underpins long-term brand equity and profitability in the luxury landscape.

Daniel Herrmann

Managing Director COS

Daniel was born in Stockholm, though has spent much of his life living and working abroad – both with his family as a child and through career opportunities taking him to New York and Germany. Following a BSc degree in Macro Economics & Management at the University of Gothenburg, Daniel joined H&M in 2003 as an intern. This marked the start of a 20-year professional career with the H&M Group, 16 of which were spent in various roles at H&M Brand – from controlling and merchandising, to marketing and communications. In 2019 Daniel joined Weekday as Managing Director, spending two years with the brand in Stockholm before taking on a new venture as a founding partner of Singular Society – H&M Group’s latest subscription-based business model. Daniel joined COS in Spring 2024 as Global Managing Director. Relocating from Stockholm, Daniel now lives in London with his wife and three children.

Tiffany James

Global Chief Digital Officer, Miu Miu Beauty L'Oréal Luxe

Tiffany is an experienced omnichannel leader and innovation strategist in the beauty industry, with expertise spanning digital, beauty tech, and R&D. She currently serves as Chief Digital Officer for Miu Miu Beauty at L'Oréal Luxe. As a founding member of this new brand within the L'Oréal portfolio, she authored its comprehensive digital roadmap and now oversees a global mandate encompassing e-commerce & CRM, omnichannel media and activation, innovation, gaming and retailtainment, digital content, and AI transformation. Her previous roles include Head of CRM & Loyalty at YSL Beauty, where she specialized in customer experience, brand loyalty, and maximizing customer lifetime value. Prior to this, Tiffany spent several years within the L'Oréal Tech incubator, part of the Research & Innovation division, successfully launching various beauty tech projects in partnership with brands across the L'Oréal Group.

Tiffany's diverse career journey has equipped her with a strong foundation in leveraging cross-functional collaboration at global, regional, and operational levels to deliver and scale complex projects. She is passionate about transformational leadership and uniting diverse teams to elevate the omnichannel client experience through disruptive innovation.

Malik Abu-Ghazaleh

Head of Digital, Omnichannel & IT, MEA Region Tiffany & Co.

Malik Abu-Ghazaleh is an accomplished leader in the world of digital transformation and luxury retail. With a passion for optimizing customer experiences, creating engaging content, and addressing global behaviors, Malik has achieved remarkable success in highly competitive industries.

From February 2022 to February 2025, Malik served as Global Chief Digital Officer at Tiffany & Co., where he played a pivotal role in driving the brand's growth through omnichannel experiences. He lead the development and execution of the global strategy for the omnichannel client journey involving a large scale digital and data transformation to ensure seamless and personalized interactions across digital and physical touchpoints. Under his guidance, Tiffany & Co has seen significant enhancements in e-commerce, in-store digital tools, and data driven processes elevating the luxury retail experience for customers.

In March 2025, Malik took on the role of spearheading Tiffany & Co.'s Omnichannel and eCommerce expansion, along with IT responsibilities, into the rapidly growing Middle East & Africa market. Leveraging his regional ties and global experience, he aims to establish the region as a leader in omnichannel retail and a testbed for cutting-edge technologies.

Prior to his current role, Malik served as the Lancôme Global Vice President, Digital at L'Oreal Luxe HQ in Paris, France. During his tenure, he successfully rebuilt the global flagship ecommerce sites with a customer-centric approach, driving brand engagement and record sales. His expertise in digital media, e-commerce, loyalty programs, and online content strategies contributed to the brand's global success.

Throughout his career, Malik has been a collaborative and results-oriented leader, working closely with cross-functional teams to align digital initiatives with overall brand strategies. His strong problem-solving skills and innovative online marketing approaches have earned him a reputation for driving growth and delivering exceptional results always putting the customer at the core of the experience.

Antony Lindsay

CEO Fabergé

A knowledgeable and passionate leader, Antony Lindsay is a results-driven and commercially astute executive with 25 years’ experience shaping the trajectory of world-renowned, hard luxury brands. As CEO of Fabergé, Antony has steered Fabergé through transformative development, reviving the company’s global presence and reaffirming its reputation and status as one of the most iconic names in luxury. Leveraging his expertise in P&L management, stakeholder relations, and international operations, his visionary leadership has been instrumental in expanding the brand’s international footprint. His visionary leadership continues to drive sustainable growth, blending tradition with forward-thinking strategies. In 2020, his leadership expanded further when he was promoted to the Board of Directors of Gemfields UK Ltd (Fabergé’s parent company), complementing his continued contributions to Fabergé's success. Before joining Fabergé, Antony held key positions at iconic luxury brands, including Graff Diamonds and David Morris International, where he honed his expertise. Antony is a certified gemmologist from two of the world’s leading gemmological institutions; a Freeman of the Worshipful Company of Goldsmiths and former President of the Gemological Institute of America (GIA) London Alumni Chapter (2002–2005).

Carol Zhou

SVP, Business Innovations & Investments, China Shiseido

Carol leads Shiseido China’s Innovation & Investment Office, driving the group’s expansion into new growth sectors such as inner beauty, wellness, and medical aesthetics. She oversees both new business incubation and strategic investments that shape Shiseido’s future portfolio in China.

She also serves as General Manager of Ziyue, Shiseido’s corporate venture fund in China, identifying and partnering with high-growth companies to accelerate innovation and create cross-brand synergies.

Before joining Shiseido, Carol held senior management roles at Unilever, Burberry, L’Oréal, Amway, and Marriott, leading global strategy, innovation, and brand marketing across multiple regions. She holds a degree from NYU’s Stern School of Business and an MBA from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.

Derek Sulger

Chairman Shanghai Tang

Derek Sulger and his co-owner, Jerry Mao, have redefined how the world’s fastest-growing segment of luxury consumers—young, globally minded, and culturally fluent—engage with taste, art, and experiences through their ecosystem of businesses.

Under their ownership and visionary leadership, SHANGHAI TANG, a heritage fashion house, has been reborn as a modern expression of Eastern elegance, cultural authenticity, and global relevance. Their ecosystem also includes the UCCA Center for Contemporary Art, China’s leading independent art institution, which they have expanded into a constellation of four museums with growing global influence and importance. Additionally, it encompasses UNMI, a hospitality group creating culturally authentic, ultra-premium restaurants and experiences, initially established in China, Japan, and the UAE, and now expanding beyond through their own brands and collaborations with global luxury houses such as Louis Vuitton and Golden Goose. Recently, they also launched Nocturne, a hotel development group designed to extend their brands and experiences into destinations that blend architecture, cuisine, and curated programming for a generation seeking more than just accommodation.

Jerry and Derek believe that, in an increasingly commoditised and digitised world, the future lies in creating experiences. They do not follow the traditional evolution of luxury brands—from product to brand to cultural positioning. Instead, they have reversed the playbook, beginning with deep investment in culture, then expanding into lifestyle, and later into luxury products. By doing so, they prioritise meaning before merchandise—soft assets before hard products.

Previously, Derek founded Linktone, one of China’s earliest NASDAQ-listed mobile internet businesses; Intrinsic, a telecommunications software company; and SmartPay JIeyin, a mobile payments business. For his role in founding these ventures, he is widely recognised as one of the earliest successful “new wave” internet entrepreneurs in China.

Derek began his career with Goldman Sachs in New York and London after graduating from Harvard University.

Adil Mehboob-Khan

CEO Liberty

Adil’s career has taken him to work with Iconic companies such as Procter and Gamble, Wella, Luxottica where he held President/CEO positions and now Liberty group where he has been the CEO since 2018. His reputation is built on brand building , turnarounds, and business/organizational transformation. His retail experience includes working with retail entrepreneurs in the Salon and Optical industry, joint planning with the largest Mass Market retailers in the world, and leading global networks such as Sunglass Hut and luxury retail at Liberty – both as a store and as a global Ecom player. An expert in Beauty and Luxury, he describes his task as basically simple: externally, having a plan to delight customers always; internally, creating an environment where people can express their talent. Having lived mostly in the Uk, Switzerland, Italy and the US, with Pakistani, Italian and Hungarian heritage, he serenely describes himself as being from nowhere in particular. He is married with 2 Children and is passionate about Theatre, Photography and Bridges.

Amit Keswani Manghnani

Chief Omnichannel Officer Chalhoub Group

Amit serves as Chief Omnichannel and AI Officer at Chalhoub Group and is a member of the Executive Committee, where he leads the organisation’s omnichannel strategy and artificial intelligence initiatives. In this role, he oversees the complete customer journey, spanning analytics and digital marketing to product technology and loyalty programmes, while driving the Group’s AI transformation across all touchpoints. 

With over 15 years of experience in digital and omnichannel retail, Amit joined Chalhoub Group in February 2023. Prior to this appointment, he spent more than a decade with two of Southeast Asia’s largest retailers, where he spearheaded digital transformation by launching innovative online initiatives and loyalty programmes. His work enabled these organisations to evolve and adapt in the digital space, delivering customer-focused solutions for prestigious global brands including Zara, Sephora, Converse, Foot Locker, and Starbucks.

Born and raised in Spain to Indian parents, Amit has cultivated a truly global perspective through his experiences living in 12 cities across multiple continents, including Indonesia, Malaysia, India, the United States, Europe, and now the Middle East. This international exposure provides him with unique insights into diverse consumer behaviours and luxury retail markets, enabling him to approach innovation through a distinctive multicultural lens.

Amit holds Executive MBAs from ESADE Business School in Barcelona and Aalto University in Helsinki. Beyond his professional pursuits, he is an avid tennis player and maintains a keen interest in technology trends, sports, and men’s fashion, which further inform his approach to retail innovation and customer experience.

Gabby Chen

President, Global Markets Florasis

Gabby is a highly accomplished executive with over 18 years of experience in the Asia Pacific region. She has recently been appointed as the Global Markets President of Florasis 花西子, a leading Chinese beauty brand, where she is responsible for bringing the brand to the international market.

With her deep understanding of consumer insights, strategic acumen, and ability to forge key partnerships, Gabby is well-positioned to drive Florasis 花西子's growth in the highly competitive global beauty market.

Prior to joining Florasis 花西子, Gabby held the position of Head of Beauty in China for the Lane Crawford Group, where she was responsible for the company's China Beauty Department. During her tenure, Gabby led the charge in expanding the brand's footprint across China, driving significant growth and profitability.

Before her role at Lane Crawford, Gabby founded Mood Editing Cosmetics, a joint venture with NetEase, one of China's leading internet technology companies. She successfully introduced the trendy fashion brand KENDALL+KYLIE to the Asia- Pacific region, becoming the sole distributor for the Kardashian family's brand.

Aside from her corporate career, Gabby is also a passionate entrepreneur and investor. She is the founder of Janes & Hooch, a renowned speakeasy bar in Beijing that has been recognized as one of the world's top 50 bars. Gabby is also involved in the Mercedes ME Beijing F&B management project and is an angel investor in Alesca Life, an agricultural technology company that builds indoor, vertical farms and farm management software to make food production more efficient and environmentally friendly.

With her track record of building successful brands, forging key partnerships, and driving growth, Gabby is poised to lead Florasis 花西子 into its next phase of expansion, establishing the brand as a global leader in the beauty industry.

Toni Stoeckl

Chief Marketing Officer Starwood Hotels

Toni Stoeckl is Chief Marketing Officer at SH Hotels & Resorts, an affiliate of global private investment firm Starwood Capital Group and brand management firm that operates 1 Hotels, Baccarat Hotels, and Treehouse Hotels. The company currently manages 14 properties with 24 in development.

Toni is responsible for each brand’s larger marketing strategy with a focus on the consumer brand experience and creating a 360° marketing approach. Toni also plays an important role as the organization enhances its commitment to and execution of its mission to provide a preference-driven, forward-thinking, and memorable customer journey that starts at the moment of booking.

Hospitality is in Toni’s DNA. Born into a family of Austrian and German hôteliers and restaurateurs, he has been helping guests discover new experiences since he could walk and talk. Armed with that pedigree and an entrepreneurial spirit, Toni led the creation and growth of game-changing luxury and lifestyle brands. Central to each charge has been forging connections with consumers (both internal and external) that are not only purpose-driven, but immersive and enduring, as well.

His journey started at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, where he helped shape W Hotels during its early, formative years, creating much of the brand’s unique experiences, signature programming and innovative partnerships. At Marriott International, he pioneered the creation of the first-ever lifestyle brand portfolio within the company. This undertaking included the transformation of Renaissance Hotels and partnering with the team at EDITION Hotels to establish the belief system, cultural framework and experience proof points as the brand made its highly anticipated debut. He led the worldwide launch of AC Hotels, growing the brand from a forward-thinking family company in Spain into an experiential lifestyle brand with record-breaking growth. Toni disrupted the industry even more with the debut of Moxy, by creating an unapologetically playful experience, through hyper-relevant audience engagement – and while breaking a few rules along the way.

Jessica Schinazi

CEO Away

Jessica Schinazi is the CEO of Away, the award-winning brand shaping the future of travel. With deep expertise across luxury goods, consumer retail, e-commerce, and business development, she brings 15+ years of global experience and leadership to the role, having held senior positions at Richemont, Amazon, LVMH, and Dyson. At Away, Jessica oversees the company’s strategic vision, operations, and continued expansion, leveraging her international perspective, luxury expertise, and proven leadership to guide the brand into its next chapter of innovation and growth.

A Brazil born French-US citizen, Jessica began her career in New York at Richemont, followed by leadership roles at Amazon and LVMH. She joined Dyson in 2021, spearheading transformative initiatives and operational expansion, and was promoted to President of the Americas in 2022 to oversee the full P&L. In 2024, Jessica joined Away as President and was soon appointed CEO.

She holds a degree in Economics and Hispanic Studies from Columbia University and lives in New York City with her family.

Natalie Lee

VP, Omnichannel & Client Development Louis Vuitton

Vice President, Omnichannel & Client Development, Louis Vuitton South Asia Pacific

Natalie Lee is a senior luxury executive with over two decades of experience leading growth, innovation, and digital transformation across Asia Pacific. As Vice President of Omnichannel & Client Development at Louis Vuitton South Asia Pacific, she drives strategies that connect data, creativity, and human insight to elevate the client experience. Her work spans the full client journey — from in-store excellence to digital engagement — shaping how Louis Vuitton delivers seamless, high-touch experiences across some of the region’s most dynamic markets.

Before joining Louis Vuitton, Natalie held senior leadership roles at Yoox Net-A-Porter, Vestiaire Collective, and Coupang, where she built and scaled high-growth fashion businesses across e-commerce and retail. She has led diverse teams across markets and disciplines, redefining how global brands engage clients through technology, storytelling, and personalization.

Recognized for bridging luxury heritage with digital innovation, Natalie is a frequent speaker on omnichannel leadership and the future of retail in Asia. She is passionate about cultivating the next generation of leaders and reimagining how luxury connects with the next generation of clients — where emotion, data, and design converge to create the future of client experience.

Candice D'Cruz

VP, APAC Hilton Luxury Brands

Candice D’Cruz is the Vice President of Luxury Brands at Hilton, Asia Pacific. With more than 20 years of experience in brand marketing and hospitality management, Candice leads Hilton’s luxury brand portfolio in the region, spearheading brand initiatives to further solidify Hilton’s esteemed luxury positioning.

Overseeing more than 60 trading and pipeline properties in Asia Pacific across the company’s three luxury brands: Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, LXR Hotels & Resorts and Conrad Hotels & Resorts, Candice is responsible for delivering on Hilton’s robust luxury growth momentum in the region, driving strategic brand development, and elevating service quality, brand value and performance.

Most recently, Candice served as Vice President of Luxury Brand Management & Marketing for Europe, Middle East, and Africa for Marriott International, overseeing luxury brand management, innovative brand marketing and strategic growth for its eight luxury brands across the region. Prior to that, she held key positions at Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. and Emaar, overseeing various aspects of branding, marketing and communications in diverse markets.

An astute hotelier with a keen understanding of the exclusivity, quality and prestige that draw discerning travelers, Candice has built a strong reputation in driving brand distinctiveness and elevated guest experiences. Honed over two decades of international experience in the hospitality and luxury space, she excels in the localization of global strategies for luxury hotel openings and unique brand activations. Her success in this vast and multifaceted sector has been reflected through many prestigious awards, most notably being named #1 in "The Power of 25", Hotelier Middle East’s 2019 list of 25 influential women in hospitality and ranked among the top 50 storytellers of the region by Forbes Middle East.

A passionate advocate for developing female leaders and cultivating young talent, Candice empowers her teams to reach their full potential. Originally from India, she has built her career in the UAE and now resides in Singapore with her husband and two children, whom she often looks to for inspiration on how to further attract and engage an up-and-coming generation of travelers.

Marc Schmidt

Chief Digital Officer Casablanca Paris

I am Marc, the head of operation and direct-to-consumer business at Casablanca Paris. I am a conscious and confident leader with a strong track record of driving growth. My experience spans from building businesses from the ground up to scaling multibillion-dollar brands like adidas, Reebok and Crocs, across global markets.

I’ve had the privilege of working hands-on in various disciplines while also leading on a regional and global scale, crafting both short- and long-term strategies that deliver results. My experience has allowed me to drive top-line revenue growth in mature markets and brands, all while improving profitability through a blend of wholesale, Marketplace, and DTC models.

Over the past decade, I’ve built top-tier organizations, recruiting over 150 people across various global, regional, and market-facing functions. My passion for growth is matched by my commitment to performance, and I believe in fostering a high-performance team culture with an entrepreneurial, ‘day one’ mindset.

Alfredo Bandini

Co-Founder & CEO Born Outside

Alfredo Bandini is an Italian entrepreneur based in Dubai and the co-founder of Born Outside, the first luxury sneaker brand founded in the GCC and fully made in Italy. His career began in management consulting, where he advised global companies on strategy and growth before deciding to build something of his own—combining his love for product excellence, design, and entrepreneurship.

Growing up in Italy, Alfredo was shaped by two powerful influences: the heritage of Italian craftsmanship and his experience as an outsider challenging norms. His journey took him from playing American football at a national level in Italy and training with the University of Maryland Terps, to navigating the corporate world, and ultimately to starting a brand in one of the most competitive industries—luxury fashion.

As a founder, Alfredo has led Born Outside from concept to international recognition in under a year, securing distribution in tier-one retailers across the GCC and Europe. Alongside building the brand, he is deeply engaged in raisinf his two twin daughters as well as pursuing his endurance endeavors.

Alfredo’s perspective combines strategy, creativity, and resilience. He speaks openly about the challenges of entrepreneurship, the importance of timing and persistence, and the value of rethinking tradition while staying true to one’s identity.

Alice Wong

President Imaginex

Alice is recognised as one of Greater China’s leading fashion retailers and brand builders. With 30 years of experience in the fashion and beauty retail industry, she combines merchandising and operational prowess, with an unrivalled knowledge of and network in Greater China, to identify, launch and build businesses in the region. As President, she leads brand acquisition and partnership strategy, working closely with brand owners and principals, sharing latest news and insight from the market and guiding them through every step of their business development. Alice began her career in merchandising at Lane Crawford, and was a member of the Pedder Group’s launch team as Vice President – Merchandising before becoming Executive Director of Imaginex in 2009 and President in 2015.

Gianluca Borghi

CEO 10 Corso Como

Gianluca Borghi is Exor Group’s Chief Executive Officer since May 2023, to lead the 10 Corso Como Brand. The executive comes from Richemont Group after spending many years in New York as Head of Retail for North America with the title of Vice President for the Montblanc Brand. Gianluca Borghi, born in Genoa, is an expert connoisseur of the Luxury Industry and he has held solid experiences in executive roles in Retail, Digital Business and Wholesale by working for leaders as Gucci, Pomellato, Boucheron and la Rinascente in Paris, Milan, and New York. He also holds an MBA from SDA Bocconi and a degree in Clinical Psychology. He was most recently Member of the Executive Committee North America at Richemont, a role that enabled him to develop additional talents in strategic planning.

Kerry Byrne

CEO Belstaff

Kerry Byrne is the Chief Executive Officer at Belstaff, bringing over two decades of experience in global merchandising, trading, and commercial strategy to the role. Kerry was appointed as CEO in April 2025 and since joining the brand in 2021 has played a pivotal role in shaping its commercial direction, driving growth and enhancing operational efficiency.

Prior to working at Belstaff, Kerry held a variety of leadership positions within the premium and lifestyle fashion sector, including at Cath Kidston, where she spent nearly nine years leading global and international merchandising strategies, and Arcadia Group, where she gained extensive experience in international markets. Her expertise spans wholesale, retail, and direct-to-consumer channels, with a strong focus on brand elevation and commercial performance.

As CEO, Kerry continues to lead Belstaff’s strategic expansion, optimising business operations while ensuring the brand stays true to its heritage of craftsmanship and innovation.

Tawny Brown

SVP, Omnichannel Paige Denim

Tawny Brown is the Senior Vice President of Omnichannel at PAIGE, where she leads the brand’s end-to-end global retail and digital strategy. In her role, she oversees all Brick & Mortar PAIGE stores, ECommerce, retail operations, clienteling, product assortment across channels, omnichannel logistics, and the design and construction of new stores. She also drives PAIGE’s brick-and-mortar expansion efforts, including global site selection and lease negotiations, while creating a seamless, elevated customer journey that connects digital innovation with meaningful in-store experiences.

Before joining PAIGE, she spent 15 years at Nordstrom, where she held a wide range of roles spanning omnichannel buying, planning, merchandising, store management, and sales. This deep 360-degree foundation across the retail ecosystem shaped her holistic approach to leadership and her belief that the future of premium, luxury and fashion lies in blending data-driven strategy with timeless customer service.

With a degree in Fashion Design and Merchandising, she brings both creative and commercial fluency to her work—pairing brand expression with operational excellence and technology-enabled growth. Known for her ability to build high-performing teams and lead complex transformations, she is focused on creating unified experiences that serve the modern customer wherever they choose to engage.

She is based in Los Angeles and is passionate about developing and mentoring the next generation of female leaders in retail.

Adam Sebba

Founder & CEO The Luminaire

Adam Sebba launched UK-based luxury travel business, The Luminaire in 2021, for a new archetype of traveller with a mission to reinvent purpose driven travel, and create customer experiences for brands and hotels.

Sebba brings 25 years of experience, the last ten years of which has been gained in luxury, company turnaround and investment. With an MBA from Imperial College London, he started his business career at the consulting firm AlixPartners. Prior to founding The Luminaire, Sebba worked in corporate VC for Diageo, was the CEO of Cookson Adventures and ran the luxury fashion brand, Antonio Berardi. Adam was recently named one of the 50 most influential people in British luxury in the Walpole Power List.

Alexis Hoopes

VP, Global Head of Fashion eBay

Alexis Hoopes is the Vice President of Global Fashion at eBay, where she plays a pivotal role in shaping the company's vision to become the leading destination for preloved, branded fashion. She joined eBay from Mattel, where, as the Senior Vice President of E-commerce, she was instrumental in advancing Mattel's direct-to-consumer (DTC) strategy and leading digital transformation efforts across various platforms, customer data, marketing, and supply chain. During her tenure at Mattel, Alexis successfully launched two new digital e-commerce platforms and effectively integrated the America Girl e-commerce operations into the DTC organization. Prior to joining Mattel, she spent nearly 15 years at Nordstrom, taking on various leadership roles that spanned strategy, e-commerce, merchandising, and planning. Her vast experience in retail has equipped her with deep insights into scaling digital commerce and improving customer experiences.

Nicholas Brown

Managing Partner Imaginary Ventures

Nick Brown is Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Imaginary Ventures, a venture capital firm focusing on the consumer, product, and retail enablement sectors. Founded in partnership with Natalie Massenet, founder and former CEO of Net-A-Porter. Imaginary invests in best-in-class brands, platforms and entrepreneurs that are changing how a new generation of consumers live, eat, and shop. Stage and geography agnostic, key consumer investments include SKIMS, The Row, FarFetch (IPO), Reformation (Permira), Glossier, Westman Atelier, Point of View, Kosas, Sundays Pet, The Feed, Mila, and others. Their enablement portfolio includes NuOrder (Lightspeed), Gloss Genius, Pepper, Builder, and others. He is a member of the Business of Fashion 500 and is a frequent contributor to various publications on the topics of retail and the consumer.

Imaginary was launched in 2018 in New York and currently has assets under management of nearly $2Billion.

Prior to starting Imaginary Ventures, Nick was a Partner at 14W Venture Partners, where he led the firm’s investments in the initial financing rounds for some of today’s most exciting brands including Warby Parker and The Real Real. Previously, he was an Analyst at JPMorgan on their Consumer and Retail team.

Nick received his BA from Harvard University in 2008. He was born in and still resides in New York City with his twin children and Partner.

Marie Driscoll

Adjunct Professor The New School

Marie Driscoll is a noted subject matter expert on beauty, fashion, luxury goods, retail, and sustainability. She is a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert 2021-2025, a RETHINK Retail Advisor and an NRF 2025 Voice of Retail. Marie is founder of Driscoll Advisors, providing advisory services to retailers, brands and retailtech firms, an adjunct professor at Parsons The New School, FIT and CUNY Baruch College and a frequent contributor to The Robin Report, Inside Retail and media. She has served in key analytical and business development roles in leading financial research firms and was recognized three times in The Wall Street Journal’s “Best on the Street” analyst survey, including first place ranking in the Clothing & Accessories industry. Marie is X-Coresight and X-S&P/CapIQ.

Marie started Driscoll Advisors to provide consulting services to academia, industry, investors and non-profits. She works with retailers and brands on various growth and operational strategies, from international expansion to entering new categories, new markets and new consumer cohorts. She contributes content to The Robin Report and Inside Retail. As a thought leader, her contributions include research publications at Coresight, white papers for CohnReznick, Luxury Daily and Deloitte’s Global Powers of Luxury Goods 2014, and content development at LIM College and Parsons, The New School. Marie joined New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in 2016 where she is part of the Entrepreneurship Program at the Jay and Patty Baker School of Business and Technology. She is an adjunct instructor teaching Equity Analysis and Private Equity at CUNY’s Zicklin School of Business, Baruch College and teaches Funding Beauty & Fashion and Fashion Retailing and Buying at Parsons. Marie is the President of the Retail Marketing Society and sits on the board of the NRF’s (National Retail Federation) Industry Partnership Council (IPC) and an advisor to startups.

Nick Blunden

President The Business of Fashion

Nick Blunden is the President of The Business of Fashion, the leading provider of news, analysis, insight and advice to the global fashion, beauty and luxury industries. In this role he is responsible for the overall growth of the business including providing leadership to all of the commercial functions within the business including the sales, marketing, product, technology, strategy and finance functions.

Before joining The Business of Fashion Nick held a variety of senior positions at The Economist Group including Global Managing Director and Global Digital Publisher of The Economist. He was also Global Publisher of The Economist’s luxury lifestyle titles Intelligent Life and 1843 and the award-winning annual publication The World In.

Prior to The Economist Group Nick spent seven years as European CEO of Profero, at that time the world’s largest independent digital marketing agency, where he worked with clients such as Apple, BMW, Channel 4, HSBC and Pepsi.

Nick has a law degree from the London School of Economics and an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management in Sydney.

Ira Kalish

Chief Global Economist Deloitte

Dr. Ira Kalish is the Chief Global and US Economist of Deloitte. He is a specialist in global economic issues as well as the effects of economic, demographic, and social trends on the global business environment. He has written about the economies of Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Southeast Asia, China, Japan, Mexico and South America, and has also written extensively on global consumer markets. He is the principal author and editor of Deloitte’s Weekly Global Economic Update.

Dr. Kalish provides thought leadership and perspectives on economic issues, including their expected impact on business operations and trends, to Deloitte clients as well as Deloitte leadership. He has given numerous presentations to corporations and trade organizations on topics related to the global economy. Dr. Kalish also serves on the Business at OECD Economic Policy Committee which advises the OECD on macroeconomic policy issues. In addition, he serves on the World Economic Forum’s Community of Chief Economists. He is widely traveled and has given presentations in 47 countries on six continents.

Dr. Kalish has been widely quoted in the news media; his remarks have been published by the Wall Street Journal, The Economist, The Financial Times, Reuters, and The Washington Post. He has appeared on CNN, CBS News, CNBC, PBS and BBC World Service.

Prior to his work at Deloitte, Dr. Kalish was chief economist at Retail Forward, a director at PwC, vice president at Bankers Trust, corporate economist at the Eastman Kodak Company, and researcher at the Institute for International Economics.

Dr. Kalish holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Vassar College and a PhD in international economics from Johns Hopkins University. He lives in Los Angeles, CA with his wife and has two adult children.

Sarah Engel

President January Digital

Sarah Engel is the President of January Digital, the marketing leadership company and agency of record for clients like Carhartt, Kendra Scott, Interstate Batteries, and Steve Madden. She also serves as a Strategic Advisor to Shoptalk and Groceryshop, and was recently named to Adweek 50, honoring changemakers and growth drivers in marketing and technology.

With more than two decades of multifaceted experience, Sarah has guided teams, served on boards, and held key leadership roles, including President, Chief Marketing Officer, and Chief HR Officer for leading consumer and B2B brands. Notable positions include Vice President of Marketing and Creative Communications at lifestyle brand Lilly Pulitzer and CMO of retail data leader DynamicAction (now Edited). Throughout her career, she has connected consumers and driven growth for the world’s most impactful brands including Travelocity, Match, and Chevrolet.

She serves on the advisory board of Rebel Nell, a jewelry company empowering marginalized women, and as Chairperson of the Board of LSH, a nonprofit supporting vulnerable communities in Philadelphia. Her contributions to the industry have earned her recognition as a Top Woman in Media and Ad Tech, one of Women’s Wear Daily’s Top 20 Women Leaders in Business, and one of Footwear News’ Six Women in Power Creating Corporate Change.

John Imah

Founder & CEO SpreeAI

As Co-Founder and CEO of SpreeAI, John Imah leads an innovative venture that uses AI to transform how people shop, discover, and connect with brands. Under his leadership, SpreeAI raised nearly $100 million and achieved a $1.5 billion valuation, establishing itself as a pioneering force in AI-driven retail. Imah’s work seamlessly merges creativity with technology, reflecting his dual passion for style and innovation.

As a Nigerian American, Imah infuses his career with a blend of innovation, resilience, and cultural perspective. Before founding SpreeAI, he held leadership roles at Samsung, Amazon’s Twitch, Meta, Take-Two Interactive, and Snap Inc. These experiences in big tech gave him a front-row seat to innovation and storytelling, which now fuel his vision at SpreeAI.

Imah’s entrepreneurial drive began early: by his mid-teens, he had already built and sold two companies. This early success, combined with a passion for technology and fashion, set the stage for his unique career at the nexus of business and creativity. Drawing on this dual love, he envisioned SpreeAI as a way to make e-commerce more personal, inclusive, and emotionally resonant for consumers. That vision, born from a self-taught coder who also harbored a love of design, guides SpreeAI’s mission to humanize online retail through style and AI.

Beyond his corporate endeavors, Imah channels his influence into both philanthropy and the arts. Through mentorship, scholarships, and community initiatives, he champions creativity and education for gifted and underserved youth, embodying a commitment to lift up the next generation of innovators. At the same time, Imah stands out as a multidisciplinary voice across design, music, and innovation, reflecting his belief that creativity knows no boundaries.

Carolin Wais

Partner Plug & Play

Carolin is a Partner at Plug and Play Ventures. She has been in the Venture industry for over 8 years. Since joining Plug and Play in 2019, she has led over 50 investments for the firm and oversaw 150+ investments since establishing PnP’s EMEA IC. She has a strong thesis on companies that deliver direct business impact in terms of efficiency, cost cutting or driving revenue. Being an advocate for diversity in the ecosystem, she is supporting multiple female-focused initiatives as a mentor and has backed 10+ female founders in 2022 alone.

She has always been passionate about entrepreneurship and supporting founders with a bold vision and willingness to challenge the status quo. During her studies at ESCP Europe, where she graduated as Valedictorian of the MiM class, she specialized in venture capital, mentoring multiple startups and founding a student-led tech conference. Prior to Plug and Play Carolin spent 3 years at Next47 and 2 years as an operator at Siemens.

Steve Dennis

Founder & President SageBerry Consulting

Steve Dennis is a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and globally recognized retail thought-leader focused on growth, innovation, and navigating the impact of digital disruption.

Steve's groundbreaking first book--Remarkable Retail: How to Win & Keep Customers in the Age of Disruption--is the bestselling retail strategy book of the past decade, and his provocative ideas on the future of shopping and consumer behavior are regularly featured in the media, in his role as a Forbes senior contributor, and as co-host of the award-winning Remarkable Retail podcast. His second book--Leaders Leap: Transforming Your Company at the Speed of Disruption—was released in the spring of 2024.

During a storied and diverse career as a C-suite executive at two Fortune 500 retailers–and most recently as a consultant and board member–Steve has helped dozens of brands design and catalyze their transformative journey to remarkable results. He also has the distinction of being the first officer level executive at any major retailer to focus on omnichannel integration.

As a sought-out keynote speaker, Steve has delivered inspiring talks on six continents, sharing his unique perspectives on what it takes to reignite customer growth in a world of accelerating change and shifting consumer preferences.

Steve is currently the President of SageBerry Consulting. Prior to founding SageBerry, he was the chief strategy officer for the Neiman Marcus Group, where he also led the company's customer insight, loyalty, and multichannel marketing efforts.

Steve received his MBA from the Harvard Business School and a BA in Economics from Tufts University.

He resides in Dallas, Texas and is the proud father of two adult daughters.

Deann Evans

Managing Director, EMEA Shopify

Deann oversees the EMEA (Europe, Middle East & Africa) commercial operation for Shopify, the leading global commerce company that provides essential internet infrastructure for millions of modern, high-growth brands including Gymshark, Huel, Lounge Underwear and Ooni.

She leads Shopify’s strategy to help EMEA merchants sell on every surface and drive retail innovation hand in hand with Europe’s most exciting businesses. In her role, she is responsible for regional growth by supporting and developing merchants and entrepreneurs, growing the partner ecosystem, and leading the team culture within Shopify’s EMEA markets.

An experienced technology executive, Deann’s career spans over two decades in a range of leadership and C-level roles for ecommerce and SaaS businesses, such as eBay, Mettr and Sizmek.

Adil Bouhdadi

Founder & CEO Autone

Adil Bouhdadi is the Co-Founder and CEO of autone, a retail technology company transforming how global brands plan, forecast, and operate. Founded four years ago with the belief that retail deserves better, autone helps brands move beyond firefighting and inefficiencies to anticipate demand, balance inventory, and empower creativity. Backed by world-class investors including General Catalyst, Y Combinator, Speedinvest, Seedcamp, and Motier Ventures, the company raised its Series A in 2024 to accelerate its growth and international expansion.

Adil’s career has spanned leadership, financial analysis, and strategic planning roles at some of the world’s most iconic fashion houses. As Head of Decision Intelligence at Alexander McQueen, he drove initiatives across sales, demand forecasting, and business planning. His earlier experiences at Victoria Beckham, Alexander Wang Inc., and SW1 Studio gave him deep insight into the operational challenges and pressures faced by fast-moving luxury and fashion businesses.

His entrepreneurial journey is built on both expertise and conviction. An MSc graduate in International Business and Strategy from SKEMA Business School, Adil also completed the Y Combinator program in 2022, further sharpening his vision for a more efficient, sustainable, and creative retail model.

Today, Adil leads autone with the mission to build a future where retail works better, for people, for businesses, and for the planet.

Georgina Nelson

Founder & CEO TruRating

Georgina Nelson, CEO and founder of TruRating, studied psychology at university, where she became fascinated with how to measure, understand, and predict human behavior. She quickly realized that the key to everything was data you could trust, which required sample sizes not usually seen in traditional market research.

After graduating, Georgina took a turn into law, working first in finance with Clifford Chance LLP before joining Europe’s largest consumer association, Which?, representing consumer privacy and data issues at an EU and UK Government level.

It was here that she identified a market need for representative consumer feedback. Putting two and two together, Georgina created TruRating, a consumer feedback and analytics platform that captures feedback from the silent majority of the customer base.

TruRating integrates the feedback process into the purchase experience by asking one question at the point of sale. This achieves what traditional survey tools fail to do—mass, genuine customer data samples at speed. Understanding how customers feel about the experience and why they buy certain products has never been more important. With TruRating, retailers and their retail media teams can get to the heart of what’s driving customer loyalty and build on excellent service.

It doesn’t stop there. The ratings are shared with consumers via store profile pages to ensure that the data exchange is fair for both parties. With a billion ratings and counting, TruRating is now the world’s largest platform for validated consumer ratings. TruRating works with globally renowned retailers, including Aldi, JD Sports, Cracker Barrel, Five Below, Canada Post, NAPA Auto Parts, Nike RPG, lululemon, Tim Hortons, Longo's and more.

Stacy Lilien

President LoveShackFancy

As President of LoveShackFancy, Stacy Lilien has helped shape the global fashion, beauty, home, and lifestyle brand celebrated for its romantic aesthetic, immersive retail experiences, and deeply loyal community. LoveShackFancy has flourished under her leadership. Lilien joined the company in 2017 as Vice President of Sales, was promoted to Vice President of the brand in 2019, and named President in 2020.

Since then, she has guided the brand’s expansion into an award-winning, category-defining business with 25 stores worldwide, hundreds of retail partners and numerous, highly coveted sold-out collaborations with brands including Stanley 1913, Victoria Secret’s Pink, Gap, Pottery Barn, Kendra Scott, Roller Rabbit, Havianas, Bogner, Supergoop!, Hurley, American Girl, and Bandier. In celebration of LoveShackFancy’s 10th anniversary, Lilien helped launch LoveShackFancy Beauty with a collection of more than 20 SKUs ranging from Eau de Parfum, hair & body perfume mists and gift sets. Beauty is the brand’s fastest-growing category, sold in more than 650 Sephora stores across the U.S. and Canada.

A respected industry leader, Lilien began her career at Saks Fifth Avenue before holding senior sales roles at Theory and Rebecca Taylor, where she rose to Vice President of Sales. She has spoken at the Vogue Business“Future of Fashion” panel, Women in Retail Leadership Summit, and Summit Speech School Benefit, and has been featured in WWD, Vogue, The Business of Fashion, and The New York Times.

Committed to giving back, Lilien supports the Summit Speech School, Scope Foundation, and Every Mother Counts. She lives in New Jersey with her husband and two children.

Christophe Cais

Founder & CEO CXG

Christophe Caїs is the founder and CEO of CXG, the leading customer experience consulting and transformation agency for premium and luxury brands. Founded in 2006, CXG is a global firm with 12 offices from Shanghai to Paris, operating across 85 countries and home to over 260 professionals from around the world.

Truly international in his perspective, Christophe has lived and worked in France, China, the UK, Spain, and the United States. Today, he is in the UAE, partnering with and advising some of the most recognized luxury brand names globally.

Christophe believes that the premium and luxury business model is at a turning point: circular economy, sustainability, market decoupling, digitalization and artificial intelligence are some of the forces rapidly reshaping the consumer landscape, making it critical for brands to transform and elevate their experiences.

As a recognized industry thought leader, Christophe is frequently invited by leading media outlets to share his insights on luxury and customer experience. His expert opinions have been featured in publications such as Forbes, Journal du Luxe, Arabian Business, Dubai Eye and more. He is also a sought-after keynote speaker, having led sessions at events hosted by global brands such as Dior, Nissan, General Motors, Grant Thornton, and Forvis Mazars.

An alumnus of the “Institut Supérieur de Gestion” and Harvard Business School, Christophe is a member of the APM (“Association Progrès du Management”), the VAB (Virtual Advisory Board) and he actively contributes as a mentor at Endeavor. He is also a member of the Forbes Agency Council and has been nominated twice for the CEO Middle East Awards.

Christophe is currently based in Dubai with his family.

Olof Darpö

Managing Director & Partner BCG

As a core member of the Consumer practice, Olof Darpö leads Boston Consulting Group’s work in ecommerce and marketing in retail for Europe. Olof has significant expertise in many retail industries, with a focus on fashion and luxury and speciality retail. Olof has led several of BCG's largest marketing transformations, spanning the full CMO spectrum including brand positioning, content creation, and excellence in execution across touchpoints.

Olof’s main areas of expertise are data-driven marketing and building high-performing marketing organizations; ecommerce acceleration and building ecommerce organizations that deliver above-market growth through better demand generation, conversion, product offering and pricing, and enabled by world class tech and operations; and data-driven and dynamic pricing including building in-house pricing engines and integrating and tuning existing pricing engines to better reach (often conflicting) core business objectives.

Martin Barthel

Managing Director & Partner BCG

Martin Barthel is a member of BCG X, Boston Consulting Group’s tech build and design business unit. He leads the growth, ventures, and design teams in Paris with a mission to invent, build, and scale digital-centric businesses, products, and services.

Martin is also a core member of CX for Growth, a BCG X domain dedicated to creating world-class end-to-end customer journeys to boost top-line growth. In addition, he is a core member of BCG's Consumer, and Marketing, Sales & Pricing practices and leads the fashion and luxury team within BCG X in Europe.

Martin brings more than 20 years of experience in building and scaling consumer-centric business models, both in Tech (Meta, eBay) and luxury goods companies (Chanel, Gucci). He has worked across Europe (Germany, UK, France) and in the US (Silicon Valley).

Simone Oloman

Founder & CEO NIFT

Simone Oloman is the co-founder and CEO of Need It For Tonight (NIFT), an innovative 90 minute and same day fashion delivery app designed for ultimate convenience. NIFT bridges the gap between the instant gratification of online shopping and the tactile excitement of in-store retail - making fashion feel as immediate as food delivery. Think Deliveroo, but for quality fashion.

Most recently, Simone launched DAVE, NIFT’s B2B embedded checkout solution, which enables retailers to offer instant delivery directly from their own websites. This technology empowers brands of all sizes with same-speed logistics capabilities once reserved for e-commerce giants - driving higher conversion, customer loyalty and measurable sales uplift.

Before founding NIFT, Simone honed her expertise at a technology AI startup, where she led the retail function and advised some of the UK’s leading retailers on digital transformation, omnichannel strategy and customer experience innovation.

Recognised by Forbes, The Independent, Vogue Business, Harper’s Bazaar, 10 Magazine, and Drapers Simone was also named one of Retail Week’s Top 50 Retail Leaders for her impact at the intersection of fashion, technology, and logistics.

A passionate advocate for retail innovation, Simone frequently speaks on the evolution of rapid delivery, technology and the shifting expectations of modern consumers. Her mission is to redefine convenience - building the infrastructure that makes fashion shopping as instant, intelligent and inspiring as the next generation of consumers demands.

Shahad Geoffrey

Co-Founder & CEO Taffi

Shahad Geoffrey is a Forbes 30 Under 30 and was named one of the 50 most impactful women in Saudi Arabia by Arabian Business. She is the Founder and CEO of TAFFI, the region’s first VC-backed fashion-tech startup, providing global brands with a generative AI-powered SaaS platform for chat, search, and content discovery. TAFFI delivers hyper-personalized shopping recommendations, helping to redefine the future of retail.

Shahad holds a bachelor's degree in International Business with a minor in Finance from INSEEC University in Paris. Before founding TAFFI, she held roles across startups and corporates as an intrapreneur, leading innovation and growth initiatives. In 2019, she worked with Tim Draper at Draper Associates, creating deal memos for companies now valued at over $8 billion.

She is also a globally recognized speaker, having presented at Harvard Business School, the Global Entrepreneurship Congress, and other leading institutions.

Simon Mitchell

Co-Founder Sybarite

Simon co-founded Sybarite with Torquil McIntosh in 2002, their steely focus has always been retail architecture and design and more recently hospitality and lifestyle. Simon has a collaborative working style and is instrumental in the fostering of the culture of Sybarite where work-life balance remains at the core.

Sybarite has delivered 2,800 projects to date, amongst those, retail and experiential concepts and designs for notable brands and retail operators of varying scales from monobrands through to master planning. Recognisable clients include LVMH, Marni, Ferrari, SKP & SKP-S.
The successful repositioning from Shin Kong Place to SKP in China has resulted in a No1 global department store ranking. Project locations include Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu and Wuhan with more to be announced. In addition to SKP, Sybarite creatively directed and conceived SKP-S, an ongoing next generation retail concept. The pipeline continues throughout China.

Simon maintains a close relationship with Sybarite’s clients in Asia and Saudi Arabia, namely CR Land, Swire and Hongkong Land, The Public Investment Fund (PIF) and KAFD.

Simon is a regular contributor and opinion leader for a host of conferences, discussions, and futures as well as being an active business mentor.

Melissa Gonzalez

Principal and Founder MG2 and MG2 Advisory

Continually pushing the boundaries of experiential retail, Melissa Gonzalez is an award-winning innovator, seasoned visionary, and brand storyteller. She is the CEO of The Lion’esque Group and Principal and Shareholder at MG2. Always pioneering the integration of physical environments and cutting-edge technologies she works with companies such as Ever/Body, Nordstrom, and Burrow foster foundational consumer engagement and evolve their offering.

A passionate mentor and strategist, Melissa works hand-in-hand with clients to understand their greatest aspirations. She leads creative teams to deliver authentic solutions from concept to completion, helping clients achieve their ultimate vision. In 2019 she was honored with ‘Women In Design’ award of the year by Contract Magazine and was recognized as one of LinkedIn and design:retail’s ‘Top 10 Retail Design Influencers of the Year’. When she’s not recording podcasts or dreaming up innovative pop-up spaces, Melissa can be found seeking inspiration in unexpected places (like skydiving 10,000 feet above ground).

Rebecca Griffiths

CEO & Founder Primis CX

Rebecca Griffiths is a visionary entrepreneur and customer experience expert with over 15 years of experience in e-commerce, business development, and CX innovation.

As the Founder and CEO of Primis CX since March 2020, Rebecca has pioneered next-generation customer experience solutions, empowering businesses to reduce churn, increase revenue, and create lasting brand loyalty. Operating across key global hubs such as London, Cape Town, and Dubai, Primis CX has quickly gained recognition as a “ones to watch” tech startup for 2024 by Sifted, reflecting its innovative approach and rapid growth in the competitive tech landscape .

Rebecca’s career journey is marked by senior leadership roles at industry giants like Amazon Prime, Narvar, and InPost, where she honed her expertise in driving operational excellence and spearheading customer-centric initiatives across diverse global markets. Her time at Amazon, in particular, instilled a deep-rooted focus on customer obsession, which became a cornerstone of her entrepreneurial vision at Primis CX. She has successfully leveraged her extensive background to transform how businesses connect with their audiences, particularly in the retail and e-commerce sectors across the GCC Middle East Region .

Beyond her corporate achievements, Rebecca is a passionate advocate for sustainability and empowering women in tech. Through initiatives like The Female Founders Collective in New York, she actively mentors and supports aspiring female entrepreneurs, fostering a more inclusive tech ecosystem. Her ability to blend strategic vision with actionable insights has positioned her as a thought leader in transforming customer experiences across industries, earning her invitations to speak at prestigious events like WORLDEF in Dubai and Retail CIO Connect .

Rebecca Griffiths has been recognized by Trending 2025 for her transformative contributions to CX innovation, her success in driving sustainable growth for global brands, and her unwavering dedication to reshaping the future of e-commerce through technology-driven solutions.

Her work continues to inspire a new wave of customer-focused innovation, setting benchmarks for excellence in the industry. As a leader based in dynamic cities like Dubai and London, she remains at the forefront of global trends, ensuring that Primis CX stays ahead in delivering impactful, scalable solutions for modern businesses.

Melissa McDermott

Founder & CEO Reclaim World

Melissa McDermott is the founder and CEO of Reclaim, a circular fashion platform built on one belief: fashion does more than dress the world—it shapes it.

With over 20 years leading product strategy, design, and buying at global brands like Gap Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch, and Mango, Melissa later helped companies like Kering, Zadig & Voltaire, and Decathlon navigate digital transformation, traceability, and circular innovation.

At Reclaim, she’s now building the intelligence layer that makes circularity scalable and profitable, an agentic AI-driven operating system that routes products to resale, repair, or recycling while keeping customers in the loop- literally- turning every product into a connected asset

Her work connects data and decisions to turn every garment into a connected asset with lasting value and every brand into a driver of systemic change.

Max Sinclair

Founder & CEO Azoma AI

Max Sinclair is the founder of www.azoma.ai. Azoma’s mission is to help brands increase their share of voice in AI-powered conversational search, e.g. ChatGPT, Google Gemini and Amazon RUFUS. Azoma has received the backing of eBay Ventures and other top-tier VCs, and is the trusted partner of the likes of L’Occitane, David Protein and Zappos.com.

Prior to founding Azoma, Max spent 6 years at Amazon in various global leadership roles, including being responsible for Customer’s browsing experience for the launch of Amazon in Singapore; and leading the scale-up of Amazon Third Party Grocery across the EU.

Max was educated at Mila, a leading global Artificial Intelligence Institute. Max is also the host of the New Frontier, the AI for Ecommerce podcast. He speaks globally at Conferences on Generative Engine Optimization (or Answer Engine Optimization), and the impact of AI on ecommerce, society and the future of work. He has also been featured in top-tier publications such as Vogue Business.

Chloé Reuter

Founder Reuter Ventures

Based in Abu Dhabi, Chloé Reuter is a Luxemburgish entrepreneur, strategic advisor, and investor with over 20 years of international experience in the luxury, lifestyle, and consumer sectors.

She began her career in Tokyo, producing for Bloomberg TV and Reuters TV, before moving to Shanghai, where she spent two decades building Reuter Communications: a strategic consultancy for luxury and premium brands. As founder and CEO, she scaled the company into one of China’s leading agencies in the sector, partnering with many of the world’s most iconic luxury houses. In 2024, she successfully exited the business through a sale to Gusto Collective, a Hong Kong-based tech and media group.

Multilingual in English, French, Mandarin Chinese, and Italian, Chloé holds a degree in Chinese and History from Durham University and also studied at the People’s University of China (Renmin University) in Beijing.

Now based in the UAE, she advises and invests in founder-led brands seeking to grow in the Middle East and internationally, leveraging her deep expertise in brand strategy, cross-cultural storytelling, and global market expansion.

Emma McFerran

CEO Lyst

Emma McFerran is the Chief Executive Officer of Lyst, the leading premium and luxury fashion shopping platform revolutionizing how 160 million shoppers a year find and shop fashion online. Under her leadership, Lyst leverages advanced data science, artificial intelligence, and cutting-edge technology to deliver personalized fashion discovery experiences.

McFerran joined Lyst a decade ago, after beginning her career in law. She has worked across all areas of the company, developing deep expertise in both fashion technology and the industry it serves.

Since becoming CEO in 2022, she has successfully driven the company's pivot to profitability while advancing its AI capabilities, transforming Lyst into an app-first business powered by machine learning algorithms that understand fashion trends, consumer preferences, and shopping behaviors.

In April 2025, McFerran led the sale of Lyst to ZOZO Group, operators of ZOZOTOWN, the leading fashion e-commerce platform in Japan. Together, ZOZO and Lyst share a vision to transform the online fashion shopping experience by bringing joy back to fashion discovery.

Key to her role is ensuring that Lyst is always guided by its culture and values, so that the business and its people grow together.

Agenda Name, Sessions

###

QUICK LINKS