2023 mena summit/riyadh
Digital Economy
& Purposeful Growth
The 9th Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit returned in 2023 to Riyadh with a progressive theme: “Digital Economy and Purposeful Growth.”
As global and regional consumer behavior shifted amid historic inflation and market volatility, the Summit emphasized how the accelerating digital economy is reshaping entrepreneurship, fostering innovation, and enabling more purposeful, values-driven growth. And explored how businesses can navigate evolving consumer expectations, rising competitive pressures, and the broader implications of digital transformation.
Bringing together pioneering voices from diverse industries, geographies, and disciplines, the event offered a comprehensive view of a sector undergoing rapid reinvention. From managing supply chain disruptions to reimagining consumer engagement, influential C-suite executives, policymakers, investors, analysts, and innovators charted a new commercial blueprint for a future defined by agility and intent.
Held under the Retail Leaders Circle name — now RLC Global Forum.
Our distinguished speakers
H.E. Eng. Ammar Nagadi
Vice Minister, Ministry of Economy &Planning, Saudi Arabia
Mohamad Mourad
Zia Daniell Wigder
Matthew Shay
Ahmed Galal Ismail
Renuka Jagtiani
John Hadden
Patrick Chalhoub
Peter Fader
Dr. Saeeda Jaffar
Saud Alsulaiman
Guy Perry
President, DevCo Development Arm of Diriyah Company
Highlights
A look back at the moments that mattered, the voices that inspired, and the ideas that moved us forward. At the energy, insights, and connections that defined the 2023 MENA Summit.
Agenda
Day 1
The Role of Government in Enabling a Future-proof Retail Ecosystem
2023 Outlook: Exclusive Insights by Visa
Dr. Saeeda Jaffar, Senior Vice President & Group Country Manager – GCC, Visa
The Power of Ecosystems
The traditional expansion formula of retail – new stores, new formats and adjacent categories – is delivering declining returns as the market matures. As a result, global retailers are leveraging their ecosystems – an extensive system of integrated offerings that creates value for all stakeholders (including customers, suppliers, employees, communities, and shareholders) to strengthen and expand the traditional business. How does Cenomi plan to leverage its ecosystem to strengthen and expand its business in Saudi Arabia and beyond?
Mohamad Mourad, Managing Director & CEO, Cenomi Group
Cyrille Fabre, Senior Partner, Bain & Company Middle East
The Future of Retail is Entertainment
In the last decade, we believed that consumers are time deprived and avoiding ads by default. So we limited our stories and ironically swapped out entertaining for – advertising. In this session we explore how brands can move from interrupting the day to day of consumers to becoming part of their most valuable time of the day. Entertainment was always worth consumers’ time.. and yours, because it sells.
Aref Yehia, Head of Business Partnerships for Retail & E-Commerce, MENA, TikTok
The Biggest Trends Transforming Retail: From Social Commerce to Retail Media
Innovation in retail hails from all corners of the globe. China gave rise to social commerce, and in the US, retailers can’t build out retail media networks fast enough as this mega-trend promises lucrative new revenue streams and profits. Retailers are turning their physical and digital stores into ad platforms, providing brands with new ways of promoting their products and directly tying marketing spend to sales. In this session, we’ll explore how these two trends are changing both consumer behavior and corporate strategies, and what retailers in the Gulf can learn from the experiences of top players in the US and China.
Zia Daniell Wigder, Chief Content Officer, Insider Intelligence
Augmented Reality Transforming Retail
Farimah Moeini, Head of Industry – Retail and eCommerce, Snap Inc. – MENA
The Local Edit: Why We Need to Support Homegrown Talent
In recent years a new attitude prevails towards supporting homegrown talents. Responsible consumption starts with supporting local creators. Last year Saudi 100 highlighted the diverse range of talent there is in the country from streetwear to couture’s to modest fashion. What are the next steps that must be taken to ensure that the local design industry flourishes?
Burak Cakmak, CEO, Fashion Commission, Ministry of Culture, Saudi Arabia
Sujata Assomull, Journalist & Author
Retail Challenges in an Increasingly Digital Customer Landscape
John Hadden, CEO, Alshaya Group
Debashish Mukherjee, Partner, Middle East & Africa Lead, Consumer & Retail, Kearney
Purposeful Growth in the Age of Disruption
The opportunities to guide business growth that respects or better still restores the environment are enormous, as are the opportunities for creating inclusive jobs and addressing rising income inequalities. The past years have seen a collective stakeholder awakening to sustainability and inclusion matters. Turning this momentum into tangible gains at scale is a daunting task. How can the retail industry do more in this space? How should the industry reconcile the seeming paradox of growth vs. sustainability and inclusivity considerations? What does “circularity” mean for an industry built on desire, consumption and constant change?
Amin Magrabi, Chairman, MAGRABi Retail Group
Patrick Chalhoub, Group President, Chalhoub Group
Norma Taki, Middle East Retail & Consumer Market Leader, Transaction Services Partner & Inclusion & Diversity Leader, PwC Middle East
The Strategic Value of Customer Relationships
Peter Fader, Professor of Marketing, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
From Retail to Modern Retail: The "How to"
What is “Modern Retail” ?
How can retailers harvest the value of the two worlds (online and offline) The 7 common habits for Modern Retailers
Mazen AlDarrab, Founder & CGO, Zid
Female Leaders Changing the Narrative
Saima Khan, Managing Director, CTZN Cosmetics
Rawan Alsahsah, Founder and CEO, RIS Group
Christine Assouad, Founder, Catalyst of Growth, Dunkin Lebanon & Semsom
The Evolving Consumer: What's On the Horizon?
How are digital technologies changing consumer lifestyles and expectations? How can retailers respond to this change?
Saud Alsulaiman, CEO, Alsulaiman Group
Georges Barakat, Chief Operating Officer, Richemont Saudi Arabia
Stephen Holbrook, CEO, Clothing & Toy Division, Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group
Dina Alsamhan, Head of Advertising Partnerships, Saudi Arabia, Google
Leaders Debate: Bridging to the Future How Can the Sector Best Collaborate to Drive Positive Change?
In a historic and unprecedented roundtable forum, the leaders of the largest retail groups in the region will come together to explore the future of retail, and discuss ways to drive positive change in the sector.
Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman, Landmark Group
Patrick Chalhoub, Group President, Chalhoub Group
Mohamad Mourad, Managing Director & CEO, Cenomi Group
Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Holding
John Hadden, CEO, Alshaya Group
Panos Linardos, Chairman, Retail Leaders Circle
Day 2
Business Building: Driving Growth in Volatile Times
How does a strategic focus on business building translate into market rewards? What are the factors that distinguish successful new businesses from underperformers?
Abdellah Iftahy, Partner, McKinsey & Company
Jhonny Jha, Associate Partner, McKinsey & Company Dubai
Lifestyle Destinations and Retail: A Virtuous Relationship
Saudi’s emerging lifestyle destinations are driving footfall and engagement among the country’s consumers. How can destinations and retailers work together to develop seamless customer experiences and create value for all?
Alison Rehill-Erguven, CEO, Cenomi Centers
Guy Perry, President, DevCo Development Arm of Diriyah Company (DGCL)
Abdellah Iftahy, Partner, McKinsey & Company
The Future of Ecommerce: Navigating a New Era of Digital Connectivity
Ali Mansour, CEO, United Electronic Company – eXtra
Prince Waleed Al Saud, Founder & CEO, Mukatafa
Abdulla Al Hammadi, Regional Business Lead for KSA Market, Snap Inc.
Mohammed Dhedhi, Consumer & Retail Partner MEA, Kearney
New Frontiers in Payments
As the sector becomes more globally connected, how can retailers manage the growing range of payment options that consumers expect? How can payment providers enhance their service to build and defend competitive advantage?
Abdulaziz Al Afaleg, Managing Director, Saudi Payments
Ali Bailoun, Regional General Manager for KSA, Oman & Bahrain, Visa
Mazen AlDarrab, Founder & Chief Growth Officer, Zid
Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager, MENA, Checkout.com
Paradigm Shifts: How Retail Can Learn from a History of Disruption
Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman, Landmark Group
Debashish Mukherjee, Partner, Middle East & Africa Lead, Consumer & Retail, Kearney
Growth Agenda: What's Next with Travel and Tourism?
As economies bounce back from the pandemic, authorities seek to turbocharge tourism once more through unconventional and innovative investment strategies. To realize and sustain growth, investments should systematically cover the entire ecosystem – from destination readiness to tourist engagement in source markets; from distribution to regulations and human capital.
Khaled Tash, Group Chief Marketing Officer, SAUDIA
Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer
Eithne Treanor, Founder & CEO, E Treanor Media
The State of the Retail and the Consumer
Ahmed Galal Ismail, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Holding
Matthew Shay, President & CEO, National Retail Federation
Mohamed Galal, Group Managing Director & CEO, United Electronic Company – eXtra
Pavlos Exarchos, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Identity and Growth: What Defines Contemporary Saudi Fashion?
A look at what make Saudi design identity unique. How can it continue to expand its footprint through the regional market and then look at becoming an international force. We speak to a few leading creators to find out.
Mohammed Bajbaa, Founder, Proud Angeles & Proud X Fashion Consultancy
Nabila Nazer, Fashion Designer & Entrepreneur
Dr. Mohammed Fitaihi, Founder & General Manager, Luxury Good Trading Company
Lynn Al-Khatib, Group Head Of Communications, Chalhoub Group
Retail Media: A Dive Into This Fast-Growing Retail Opportunity
This session will look at what a retail media network is, why it’s so powerful for both brands and retailers, and what brands are looking for in their retail media partners. We will review what attributes are most important to brand advertisers seeking out a retail media partner, and explore why certain retailers scored highest in our US Retail Media Perceptions Benchmark.
Zia Daniell Wigder, Chief Content Officer, Insider Intelligence
The New Trends in Digital Marketing for Retail
Moving from “Acquiring new customers” to Retargeting How to use data to build proper digital marketing performance New techniques and trends to be explored in 2023
Dejan Kovacevic, Chief Operating Officer, Multipliers
Defeating Disruption: Building Resilience in an Ever-changing Landscape
Responding to the global upheavals in supply chains requires planning on a scale – and with a depth – few companies have undertaken before. How can companies better understand their vulnerabilities and build greater resilience to future shocks?
Muwaffaq Jamal, Managing Director, Sudasia Consultancy
Joel Banck, Lead Senior Solution Principal, EMEA & APAC, RELEX Solutions
Mohammad AlRazaz, Co-Founder & CEO, OTO
Frederic Levy-Perrault, CEO, Al Raya Supermarkets
Yash Arya, Transport & Logistics Director, PwC Middle East
How Technology is Re-ordering Retail Valuations
Omar A. Almajdouie, Founding Partner, Raed Ventures
Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Co-Founder & CEO, Tamara
Ibrahim Abdul Khaliq, CFA – Chief Investment Officer, Namara Investments
Roy Hintze, Deals Strategy & Operations Partner, PwC Middle East
Redefining Customer Experience - At Scale
How can retailers maintain a premium customer experience in omnichannel retail while maintaining consistency across all customer touch points? How does this experience translate into enhanced loyalty and a seamless brand experience?
Myf Bagnold, Group CMO, Cenomi Group
Michael Ward, Managing Director, Harrods
Patrick Bousquet-Chavanne President & CEO Americas, Global Luxury Practice Lead, ESW
Richard Simonin, Vice Chairman, Al Tayer Retail Dubai
Mina Fader, Managing Director, Baker Retailing Center, The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania
Our Partners
Strategic Partners
Headline Partners
Platinum Partners
Gold Partners
Modern Retail Partner
Silver Partners
Knowledge Partners
Networking Breaks Partner
Media Partners
Gift Partners
I would like to thank Retail Leaders Circle for organizing such a strategic and influential event that brought the brightest minds in retail together here in Riyadh.
Senior Vice President & Group Country Manager – GCC, Visa