RLC
CEO SUMMIT
Where leadership shapes
the retail agenda
Built upon almost 10 years of high-level engagement, the RLC CEO Summit — organized by the RLC Global Forum — is recognized as an institution of unmatched influence, discretion, and substantive dialogue within the global retail industry. Convened annually in New York City, it gathers a meticulously curated group of global CEOs, board chairs, institutional investors, and policy leaders to drive decisions that matter, across strategy, investment, technology, and the evolving dynamics of global consumer markets.
Anchored in the realities of navigating complexity, the RLC CEO Summit provides a rarefied environment for strategic discussions at the absolute highest level of decision-making. It is a space where critical challenges meet clear-eyed solutions and emerging opportunities are viewed through a long-term lens, serving as an essential nexus for retail leaders actively shaping the future of the industry.
Past Speakers
Each edition of the RLC CEO Summit brings together an exceptional roster of leaders from across the global retail ecosystem. Speakers include Fortune 500 CEOs, senior policymakers, leading institutional investors, and prominent academics.
john
Furner
President and CEO, Walmart U.S.
Walter
Robb
Former CEO, Whole Foods Market
Carlo
Croso
President of The Americas, Prada
Tommy
Hilfiger
Founder, Tommy Hilfiger
Marygay
Mckee
Co-founder and General Partner, Fernbrook Capital Management LLC
kenneth
Himmel
President & CEO, Related Urban
Jill
Granoff
CEO, Eurazeo Brands
Graziano
de Boni
Global CEO, Diane von Furstenberg – DVF Studio LLC
Steve
Sadove
Principal, Stephen Sadove and Associates
Who Attends
Attendees represent a broad cross-section of industries including retail, real estate, technology, finance, and investment, reflecting the increasingly interconnected forces shaping global consumer markets.
CEOs and Presidents of global brands
Senior leaders in retail, luxury, and beauty
Global developers, operators, and tech leaders
Investment & private equity executives
2025 RLC CEO Summit in numbers
1
5
0
C-level Executives
8
5
%
Brands/Retailers
2
0
+
Speakers
FAQs
The RLC CEO Summit is designed as an exclusive, invitation-only experience, and attendance is extended to a carefully vetted group of senior leaders. Interested parties may request an invitation through the designated form on the website. All requests are reviewed, and if approved, an official confirmation granting access to the Summit will be sent.
The RLC CEO Summit drives impact across the areas that matter most to global retail leadership: strategy and long-term vision, investment and capital allocation, technology and innovation, and the shifting dynamics of global consumer markets. By convening the most senior decision-makers in the industry within a uniquely candid and high-trust environment, the Summit generates practical outcomes, shaping leadership agendas, advancing strategic collaborations, and setting the direction of the industry at the highest level.
The RLC CEO Summit is a one-day gathering featuring a comprehensive program of keynotes, panel discussions and presentations, centered on how leadership must evolve in an era of volatility and disruption. The evening prior, attendees are invited to the RLC Honors gala dinner, which includes the presentation of the Retail Excellence Award, celebrating an individual whose leadership and vision have left an enduring mark on the global retail industry.
Renowned for its candid conversations and off-the-record insights, the Summit delivers real-time dialogue, high-level exchange, and purposeful networking among a distinguished roster of CEOs, brand innovators, and industry experts from across the global retail landscape.
In addition to the RLC CEO Summit in New York, the RLC Global Forum organizes the RLC Annual Forum in Riyadh and the RLC Fashion Summit in Milan.
This retail CEO Summit is all about quality: the quality of the speakers, the moderators, and the audience. The dialogue is very constructive and inspiring.
Laurent Claquin
President, Kering Americas
You really got a clear sense of the retail landscape. This conference really surfaced modern retail in a very real way.
Walter Robb
Former CEO, Whole Foods Market
This Summit brought together some of the foremost thought leaders on the future of commerce and company culture. It was inspiring to learn from fellow entrepreneurs who have innovated so much in that space.
Ryan Breslow
Founder & Executive Chairman, Bolt