2024 MENA Summit/Riyadh
Fearless Innovation
Held on February 19–20, 2024, at The Ritz-Carlton Riyadh, the 10th Retail Leaders Circle MENA Summit convened under the theme “Fearless Innovation: Charting the Next Frontiers.”
From lifestyle and tourism to giga projects and investment, the Summit’s rich program featured curated thematic tracks, strategic roundtables, innovation exhibitions, and sector-focused sessions that bridged global trends with actionable outcomes. And underscored the critical need for international dialogue, coordinated action, and global consensus to drive systemic and positive change.
Bringing together CEOs, senior policymakers, innovators, and investors from over 40 countries and across sectors—including retail, real estate, tourism, entertainment, and technology—the event served as a dynamic platform for sharing insights and diverse perspectives on the future of industry and society.
Held under the Retail Leaders Circle name — now RLC Global Forum.
Our distinguished speakers
H.E. Majed bin Abdullah Al-Hogail
Dr. Bander Hamooh
Patrick Chalhoub
Renuka Jagtiani
Avery Baker
Former President and Chief Brand Officer, Independent Brand Advisor, Tommy Hilfiger, Avery Baker Advisory
John Hadden
Sima Ganwani Ved
Alison Rehill-Erguven
Simone Dominici
Marigay McKee
Lee Talbott
Senior Director, Retail Portfolio, ROSHN Group
Fahed Ghanim
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 Summit.
Agenda
Day 1
Visa's Outlook: Shaping the Year Ahead
Walter Lironi, Senior Vice President, Head of Advisory and Value-Added Services, Central and Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), Visa
KSA Consumer 2035, What to Expect?
As Saudi Arabia propels towards Vision 2030, understanding the evolving consumer landscape becomes crucial. What are the future consumer trends, contrasting them with present-day behaviors and examining their impact on key retail sectors. How will these shifting consumer patterns and preferences shape the retail future in sectors like Grocery, E-commerce, and more in Saudi Arabia? An exclusive launch of the global McKinsey report “The Future of Consumer in 2035”.
Abdellah Iftahy, Partner, McKinsey & Company, Dubai
Dr. Simon Land, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, Dusseldorf
The State of Retail
With the retail sector approaching a pivotal year, what are the transformative forces at play? Focusing on evolving consumer trends, the competitive landscape, and strategic market shifts, what innovative strategies and initiatives are top retailers considering to redefine success in the retail landscape of 2024?
Mohammed Almulhim, Deputy Minister for Compliance and City Operators Sector, Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing
Mohamed Galal, MD & CEO, United electronic company-eXtra
Saud Alsulaiman, CEO, Alsulaiman Group
Abdulmajeed Alsukhan, Co-founder & CEO, Tamara
Karl Nader, Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners
Exclusive Launch: The 2024 Global Development Index
What’s Saudi Arabia’s progress and standing in the global retail arena? The 2024 Global Retail Development Index analyzes KSA’s significant strides in cultivating a retail environment primed for investment and enhanced customer experiences. How do these developments position Saudi Arabia in the global retail landscape, and what implications do they hold for the future of retail in the Kingdom?
Debashish Mukherjee, Partner, Middle East & Africa Lead, Consumer & Retail, Kearney
Building Global Brands That Matter
In an uncertain world, building brands that connect and endure has never been more critical to long term business performance and growth. How do we create brands that thrive shifting from a culture of “transaction” to a culture of “connection”?
Avery Baker, former President and Chief Brand Officer, Tommy Hilfiger
Retail in the Age of AI
What are the latest innovations driving retail forward and the challenges of integrating AI technologies? What possibilities does AI unlock for retailers and consumers alike, and how will it shape the industry’s evolution?
Michael Chalhoub, President Strategy, Growth, Innovation & Investment and Joint Ventures, Chalhoub Group
Charbel Sarkis, Director of Saudi Arabia and MENA Retail, Google
In Conversation: The Race to Diversity & Inclusion
Explore the dynamic landscape of DEI in the retail industry and the crucial role of women empowerment in shaping a diverse and inclusive workplace. How can businesses accelerate their journey towards a more inclusive and equitable future, and what is its impact on driving business growth and innovation?
Sima Ganwani Ved, Founder and Chairwoman, Apparel Group
Norma Taki, Retail and Consumer Market Leader, Transaction Services Partner and Inclusion and Diversity Leader, PwC Middle East
Winning in Saudi Retail Ecosystem
Dive into the evolving consumer landscape, with focus on Saudi Arabia, where shopping experiences are increasingly merging with entertainment, creating a new paradigm of ‘Retailtainment.’ Snapchat’s impact on mobile engagement, highlights how innovative AR technology is driving change in retail and entertainment with successful collaborations like the Middle Beast initiative. What is augmented reality’s role in transforming omnichannel experiences and what is the potential of retailtainment partnerships?
Ramit Harisinghani, General Manager, Luxury Tech, Chalhoub Group
Miglena Zivkovic, General Manager, Make Up For Ever
Hala Zgeib, Head of Luxury, Snap Inc.
Generative AI – The Next Technology Frontier in Retail
Generative AI, one of the most discussed technologies recently, holds significant potential impact for the Retail sector. Explore how Generative AI is revolutionizing industries, with a focus on emerging use cases in Retail. Get to know the leadership considerations, future strategic planning, ethical concerns, and the role of regulatory bodies in this evolving landscape. How might these developments shape the future of Retail?
Costi Perricos, Partner & Global Generative AI Leader, Deloitte
Aditi Nitin, Partner, Retail & Analytics Lead, Deloitte Middle East
Navigating the New Retail Real Estate Order: Innovations & Opportunities
In an ever-evolving landscape, the necessity for stakeholders in retail real estate to adapt is more urgent than ever. How can retail innovations address shifts in consumer behavior and market dynamics? What is their potential to improve quality of life, and how can the urban design of the future refine the retail experience in the new retail real estate order?
Fahad Al Mutlaq, Deputy Minister of Urban Planning and Lands, Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing
Dr. Martyn Davies, VP (Acting) and Head of Retail at the Royal Commission for Riyadh City (RCRC)
Abdullah Tamimi, CEO, Hamat Holding
Pauline Coquet, Associate Partner, Bain & Company Middle East
The Mall: How to Transform
Shopping centers are being impacted by huge changes in resource, distribution, and technology forces. What are the evolving dynamics between retailers and landlords as retailers rethinking their portfolio and modify their use of stores in the future. What does the new consumer want from their retail experience, what’s changing and what will the shopping center of the future look like? How can effective collaboration between landlords, tenants, and technology partners can build organic growth in this new retail real estate environment?
Mohammad Alawi, Chairman of the Board Azad Properties Co
Shane Eldstrom, Chief Executive Officer, United Developers
Eng. Faisal Al Nasser, CEO, Alandalus Property
Turki Bin Zarah, Co-Founder & Managing Director, Tamara
Ben Chesser, CEO & Founder, Coniq
Retail Innovation vs. Customer Expectation: Who is falling behind?
The Saudi Economy continues to see consumer demand in digital-led, curated experiences as part of their shopping and complimentary journeys. Given the speed of change, retailers are “catching up” and overcoming adoption barriers – both internal and systemic. In this context, Snap and Kearney have recently launched a paper that understands these challenges in detail and offers pragmatic and specific solutions. How can retailers effectively apply these insights to their successful digital transformation journey?
Dina Al Sabbagh, Research & Insights Lead, Snap Inc.
Mohammed Dhedhi, Consumer & Retail Partner, MEA Kearney
Accelerate Your Business With the Power of Formula 1
In today’s fast paced world where the volume of data across all industries has proliferated; it is imperative for retailers to identify and act fast on what is significant to stay ahead of the ever-changing demands of their customers. Explore the themes and factors which drive winning performance in Formula 1 and how Retail & Consumer organizations can benefit from next generation thinking on Data.
Jason Gordon, Partner and Global Relationship Lead for Deloitte & McLaren Alliance
Hybrid Retail: The New Norm
The evolution from multichannel to Omnichannel retailing is allowing communication, experience, interaction within online and offline channels. Are we ready to the step further, heading to the integration of channels, payment systems, products, customer data to deliver a seamless, integrated, measurable and frictionless experience?
Simone Dominici, CEO KIKO Milano
Çağrı Orçan, Co-Founder & CSO, Akinon
Otto Williams, Senior Vice President, Head of Product, Partnerships & Solutions CEMEA, Visa
Raffaella Campagnoli, Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, Majid Al Futtaim Retail
Personalizing Retail in the Age of AI
AI plays a significant role in creating exceptional experiences across various touchpoints in the retail and business landscape. How can businesses leverage AI technologies to create more personalized, responsive, and interactive experiences for consumers, ultimately building stronger relationships and increasing customer loyalty?
Anna Germanos, Group Director CPG, Retail, E-commerce & Luxury, Meta for Middle East & Africa
Franck Guellerin, VP South & MEA, Mirakl
Hani Saif, CIO, United electronic company – eXtra
Fawaz AlOtaibi, Co-Founder & KSA CEO, Kaykroo
Megan Higgins, Retail and Customer Insights Lead, PwC UK
Saudi Arabia in a Global Digital Context
Discover the future of retail and e-commerce through an insightful presentation that unveils first-ever forecasts for Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE markets, showcasing their rapid growth. Based on data from over 50 countries what are the emerging global retail trends?
Zia Daniell Wigder, Chief Content Officer, Insider Intelligence
Growth Accelerators: The Tourism & Entertainment Pursuit
The convergence of retail, hospitality, and entertainment is reshaping the tourism landscape, turning these sectors into decisive factors that influence where travelers go and how they experience destinations. What is the strategic interplay between these industries and their collective role in building cross-sector growth? This power panel will shed light on visionary strategies leading this transformation and dissect how they are collectively elevating the experience of global visitors.
Khaled Tash, Group CMO, Saudia Group
Muzzammil Ahussain, CEO, Almosafer, (part of Seera Group)
Winston Fisher, CEO, AREA15
Hamza Jeddawi, Chief Experience Development Officer, Saudi Tourism Authority
Nisreen Shocair, CEO, Shocase Middle East
Collaboration as Catalyst: Retail's Collective Action to Positive Change
In an unprecedented roundtable forum, the CEO’s of the leading retail conglomerates converge to explore the transformative power of collaboration in the retail sector.
Mohamad Mourad, MD & CEO, Cenomi Group
Renuka Jagtiani, Chairwoman, Landmark Group
Patrick Chalhoub, Group President, Chalhoub Group
John Hadden, CEO, Alshaya Group
Panos Linardos, Chairman, Retail Leaders Circle
Day 2
Sustainability Leadership in Retail
COP28 demonstrated the importance of sustainability for the world. But what is it for retailers in the region? What do they need to do to contribute to this important agenda for the planet encompassing, securing the food system, sustainability, procurement, and energy efficiency. How can they integrate diversity, equity, and inclusion into their strategy?
Hani Weiss, Chief Executive Officer of Majid Al Futtaim – Retail
Cyrille Fabre, Senior Partner, Bain & Company Middle East
State of Fashion 2024: The KSA Opportunity Among Global Headwinds
Overview of the findings of McKinsey’s flagship State of Fashion 2024 report, outlining the most relevant industry trends for business leaders to pay attention to in the coming year and drawing implications for the KSA fashion opportunity.
Gemma D’Auria, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, Milan
Colin Henry, Senior Advisor, McKinsey & Company, London
Engineering Growth: Actioning Homegrown for Global Reach
How can regional retailers transform their revenue streams by elevating homegrown brands from niche to global market leaders? Discover how CEOs navigate the complex balance of fostering local identity while maintaining global partnerships and the impact on market dynamics, innovation, and profitability. Uncover the challenges and opportunities in altering revenue models, amplifying local brands, and redefining the norms of the retail landscape. What strategies can successfully pivot local brands to global prominence?
Neeraj Teckchandani, CEO, Apparel Group
Stephen Holbrook, CEO, Jamjoom Fashion
Ben McCabe, Founder, McCabe + Partners
Urban Retail Renaissance: The New Lifestyle Paradigm
What’s the profound impact of retail in shaping modern urban communities and crafting unparalleled experiences, be it in living spaces or shopping environments? How are these urban developments redefining the order of the industry, turning large-scale mixed-use spaces into lifestyle-centric hubs? How can the synergy of life, work, entertainment, and culture in these spaces, revolutionize both the retail and leisure in modern urban landscapes?
AbdulRahman Al-Tawil, Deputy Minister for Real Estate, Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing
Lee Talbott, Senior Director, Retail Portfolio, ROSHN
Mishal bin Omirah, Group CEO, Alothaim Investment
Jassem M. Al-Muqbel, Chief Development Officer at Shomoul Holding
Ghaith Shocair, CEO & Board Member Saif Al Ghurair Real Estate, Founder & General Manager, Theorema Partners
View from the Top: Shaping the Future with Purpose
Retail Leadership Perspectives
Strategies and purpose-driven leadership that shape the future of the industry.
Yasser Joharji, CEO and Board Member, Nahdi Medical Company
Advocacy in Action
A strategic conversation on the role of advocacy in fostering sustainable and purposeful business practices within the Kingdom.
Prince Waleed N.F. AlSaud, Founder & CEO, Mukatafa
Debashish Mukherjee, Partner, Middle East & Africa Lead, Consumer & Retail, Kearney
What Comes Tomorrow: The Future of Payments
As the retail landscape rapidly evolves, the future of payments becomes increasingly central to shaping consumer experiences. What are the challenges, opportunities, and the future direction of retail payments, emphasizing the importance of security, compliance, and collaborative efforts between fintech companies and retailers to enhance consumer engagement and drive business growth?
Ali Bailoun, Regional General Manager for KSA, Oman & Bahrain, Visa
Abdulaziz Al Afaleg, Managing Director, Saudi Payments
Abdulmohsen Albabtain, Co-Founder & Head of Payments, Tamara
Abdulla Almoayed, Founder & CEO, Tarabut
Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager MENA, Checkout.com
Nisreen Shocair, CEO, Shocase Middle East
Blending Retail and Investment: A Women-Led Journey to Redefining Success
Explore the dynamic intersection of retail innovation and investment strategies. How can retail acumen combined with savvy investment approaches ignite groundbreaking success, drive innovation, and fuel transformation across multiple sectors? How can this innovation leap redefine standards and practices, highlighting inclusion not as an abstract notion but a critical factor that facilitates business growth in different sectors?
Karen Wazen, Digital Entrepreneur
Marigay McKee, Co-Founder, Fernbrook Capital Management LLC
Lynn Al Khatib, Vice President of Communications, Chalhoub Group
Upending Paradigms: Leadership in the New Normal
Against a backdrop of ongoing and frenetic change in an ever-evolving retail landscape that embraces disruption and rewards future- focused leadership, successful organizations are those that can deftly turn structural industry changes into profit. How are retail leaders redefining their strategies to harness these changes for growth. What strategies have been successful when tackling disruptive trends in the past, and in what will they continue to work in the years to come?
Ali Mansour, CEO, United electronic company – eXtra
Hosam Arab, Co-Founder and CEO, Tabby
Adnan AlKhalaf, CEO, Leejam Sports Company
Michael Chalhoub, President Strategy, Growth, Innovation & Investment and Joint Ventures , Chalhoub Group
Gemma D’Auria, Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company, Milan
The Evolution of the Shopping Centers
Alison-Rehill Erguven, CEO, Cenomi Centers
Panos Linardos, Chairman, Retail Leaders Circle
Charting the Unchartered: Transformation Crossroads
In the dynamic landscape of the GCC retail sector, transformation is not an option, but a necessity, placing profitability of retailers on the spotlight, and demanding a thorough approach to store networks, merchandise, costs, and more. Discover the effective strategies of retail executives on their profit transformation journey and the key drivers of success, including change management. What are the critical factors in achieving sustainable results in retail transformation?
Sélim Chidiac, CEO, L’azurde
Bander T. Hamooh, CEO, Panda Retail Company
Abdel-Salam Bdeir, CEO, SACO
Hisham Abdul Khalek, Partner & Managing Director, AlixPartners
Towards Deeper Collaboration Between Government and the Private Sector
What are the incentives to boost private sector involvement, especially in the critical areas of retail and real estate and how can joint efforts between the government and the private sector spur innovation and foster sustainable growth across these key sectors?
Abdulmajeed Alaskar, Assistant Deputy Minister for Privatization and Financial Sustainability, MoMRAH
Muwaffaq M. Jamal, Managing Director, Sudasia
Razan Farhan Alaqil, Chief Advocacy Officer, Mukatafa
Integrating F&B in Retail: Beyond Food Courts
F&B integration is becoming an essential aspect of retail real estate, enhancing customer experiences and driving foot traffic. What are the innovative approaches to incorporating F&B in retail environments, from gourmet experiences to immersive F&B concepts that go beyond temporal trends? How can retailers and developers leverage F&B integration to create unique and memorable shopping environments that attract and retain today’s experiential consumers?
Chef Eman Fallatah, Owner of Creative Eats Studio
Rakan Aloraifi, Founder of KIT Catering
Magdalene Welch, Senior Manager, Concept Development & Advisory, Consulting KEANE
Stefan Breg, Managing Partner, Consulting KEANE
Retailtainment: Crafting the Future of Immersive Experiences
The blend of retail and entertainment transforms shopping into an immersive journey beyond traditional boundaries. Delve into successful strategies, emerging trends, and the transformative impact of “retailtainment” on consumer engagement. Learn how cutting-edge technologies and experiential marketing are reshaping the retail landscape. What are the secrets to crafting memorable, shareable experiences that captivate audiences and boost foot traffic?
Dion Pouw, Founder & CEO, WoW
Pirakash T, Head of Revenue & Growth, Museum of Ice Cream
Khalid Aldhubaie, Chief Commercial Officer, Ezdihar Real Estate Development Company
Laura Buckwell, Broadcast Journalist
Fashion in the Age of Technology
Delve into how technology is revolutionizing the fashion industry, from the design process to the retail experience. What are the innovations like AI in design, virtual try-ons, e-commerce personalization, and how these technologies are reshaping consumer expectations and industry dynamics?
Marigay McKee, General Partner at Fernbrook Capital Management LLC
Avery Baker, former President and Chief Brand Officer, Tommy Hilfiger
Kunal Kapoor, Founder & CEO, The Luxury Closet
Nisreen Shocair, CEO, Shocase Middle East
Global Trends, Local Identity: Fashion's New Frontiers
Navigate the intersection of global fashion trends and local cultural identity, a dynamic space that encourages creativity, inclusivity, and mutual respect. How are designers and brands blending global influences with local traditions to create unique fashion narratives, fostering a global dialogue on culture and identity.
Honayda Serafi, Founder & Creative Director, HONAYDA
Brenda Bellei Bizzi, CEO, WHITE Milano
Sujata Assomul, Journalist & Author
Disrupting the Traditional in Fashion and Beauty
Spotlight emerging fashion startups that are challenging the status quo. Explore how these innovative companies are navigating the fashion landscape with unique business models, disruptive technologies, and creative designs, offering insights into the future of the fashion industry.
Dima Ayad, CEO & Founder, Dima Ayad and DAC Communications
Hind Sebti, Founder of whind Beauty, Co-Founder of Waldencast Group
Faiza Bouguessa, Owner and Creative Director, Bouguessa
Nisreen Shocair, CEO, Shocase Middle East
The Future of Grocery
Explore the complexities of emerging trends shaping the future of grocery retail and the cutting-edge innovations focused on efficiency, immersive shopping experiences, and tailored content delivery. Discover the key factors driving change and the innovations that are redefining the grocery shopping experience. How will the grocery retail evolve and what is needed to stay ahead in this dynamic market?
Frederic Levy-Perrault, CEO, Al Raya Supermarkets
Adriano Araujo, President, APAC & MEA, Ocado Group
Bassel Elshaboury, Vice President Africa & Head of Marketing High Growth Markets, HENKEL
Shehim Mohammed, Director, LuLu Saudi Hypermarkets
Cyrille Fabre, Senior Partner, Bain & Company Middle East
Venturing into the Future: Investments for a New World
In a rapidly evolving landscape, Saudi Arabia’s venture capital leaders converge to shed light on the ever-shifting world of investments. What is the state of investments today, what are the emerging trends, and the strategies that drive success. How can we navigate these uncharted territories and seize the winning opportunities of tomorrow?
Mohamad Alzubi, CEO & Founder, Nama VC
Ali Ahmed Abussaud, Founding Managing Partner, Hala Ventures
Luca Barbi, General Partner and COO, STV
Roy Hintze, Deals Strategy & Operations Partner, PwC Middle East
Growth Accelerator 2.0: The Customer Experience Catalyst
Exceptional customer service and experience are not just value-adds, but essential drivers for growth and success in the competitive retail sector. What are the successful strategies to meet evolving consumer expectations, enhancing customer engagement, and ultimately fueling business growth? How can prioritizing customer experience be a powerful catalyst for sustained growth in the retail industry?
Mohammed Al Melhem, Deputy Minister for Compliance and City Operators Sector, Ministry of Municipal, Rural Affairs and Housing
Dan Finley, CEO, Debenhams
Fahed Ghanim, CEO, Majid Al Futtaim Lifestyle
Mina Fader, Managing Director, Jay H. Baker Retailing Center, The Wharton School University of Pennsylvania
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