Ninth Annual Global Leaders’ Gathering
One hundred retail leaders worldwide meet in strict privacy: No journalists, no publicity, no pushy enterprise sales executives; just retailers
Free of charge, though invitation only, this is the invitation that money can’t buy.
Chatham House Rules Apply
Monday, September 23rd - 6.30 PM - 8.30 PM
Evening reception
Aspinal of London: 16 Regent Street Saint James's, London SW1Y 4PH
Tuesday, September 24th - 8.00 AM – 5.00 PM
Breakfast 8.00 AM – 8.45 AM
Conference 8.45 AM – 5.00 PM
Daytime Conference, The Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews, London, W1D3DH
Opening Remarks
Ali Sharif, CEO, Al Othaim Life Co
Start Time: 08:55
Finish Time: 09:00
Duration: 5 minutes
Lily Chen, Vice President, Head of Global Brand Operations, Americas, UK, EMEA, Shein Group
Start Time: 09:00
Finish Time: 09:25
Duration: 25 minutes
Amanda Edelman, COO, Gen Z Lab & Deputy Lead, EMEA Client Portfolio, and Jackie Cooper, Senior Advisor and Chief Brand Officer at Edelman
Start Time: 09:28
Finish Time: 09:48
Duration: 20 minutes
10 Minutes Natural Break
Jo Newton, Director of Buying: Hampers, Fashion, Beauty and Home, Fortnum and Mason
Start Time: 10:00
Finish Time: 10:20
Duration: 20 minutes
Brendan Dorrian, Founder, Rarely Heard Voices
Start Time: 10:20
Finish Time: 10:30
Duration: 10 minutes
Scott Malkin, Chairman, Value Retail, Anne Pitcher, Deputy Chairman, Holt Renfrew in conversation with Liz Heller, Managing Partner, memBrain LLC
Start Time: 10:30
Finish Time: 11:00
Duration: 30 minutes
20 Minutes Coffee Break
Vote of Thanks
Start Time: 11:20
Finish Time: 11:25
Duration: 5 minutes
Ciaran Long, Chief Executive Officer (Interim) & Chief Financial Officer, a.k.a. Brands
Start Time: 11:25
Finish Time: 11:50
Duration: 25 minutes
Myleene Klass, Musician, Broadcaster, Designer & Model, Sunday Times Best Seller, Educator & Philanthropist, Content Creator, Trend Setter
Start Time: 11:50
Finish Time: 12:10
Duration: 20 minutes
Uri Reiss, Chief Executive Officer, 911 Fashion, Philippa Dempster, Senior Partner and Managing Partner, Freeths, Mo Beig, President and Chief Financial Officer, Janie and Jack, and Stuart Ford, President & Chief Operating Officer, Dropit Shopping
Start Time: 12:10
Finish Time: 12:35
Duration: 25 minutes
Guest Speaker
Start Time: 12:35
Finish Time: 13:10
Duration: 35 minutes
Lunch Break (13:10 - 14:00)
CIAB Game Show
Joel Teitelbaum, Chief Executive Officer, iStore Canada, with Trish Kozlak, Head of Retail and Executive Committee Member and Jeff Streader, Managing Partner, Go Global Retail
Start Time: 14:00
Finish Time: 14:15
Duration: 15 minutes
Virginia Hilfiger, Co-Founder and Chief Branding Officer, MGOL Global, and Danny Pippin, Chief Operating Officer, Couture Technologies
Start Time: 14:18
Finish Time: 14:43
Duration: 25 minutes
Adam Beaumont-Brown, Founder, Orlebar Brown and Marigay McKee, Founder, Fernbrook Capital Management LLC
Start Time: 14:46
Finish Time: 15:11
Duration: 25 minutes
20 Minutes Coffee Break
Fraser Brown, Retail Director, Heathrow and Susan Reid, Director of On-Board Revenue & Concessions, Carnival UK (P&O Cruises & Cunard)
Start Time: 15:31
Finish Time: 15:56
Duration: 25 minutes
Claudia Lima-Guinehut, Brand President, The Children's Place
Start Time: 15:57
Finish Time: 16:22
Duration: 25 minutes
Amanda Raposo, Chief Experience Officer, CAMP
Start Time: 16:25
Finish Time: 16:50
Duration: 25 minutes
Closing Remarks
Start Time: 16:50
Finish Time: 16:55
Duration: 5 minutes
Dietary Requirements
We want to ensure your culinary experience is just as memorable as the Leaders’ gathering itself. If you have any dietary requirements, if you have any dietary requirements please tell us ASAP, and our amazing Sarah Smyth will make sure your needs are catered to. Email Sarah.Smyth@rarelyheardvoices.com and consider your taste buds in safe hands!
Dress Code
Unleash your inner fashion guru and join us in the stylish realm of 'Conference Casual.' This dress code strikes the perfect balance between comfort and professionalism, allowing you to express your unique style while keeping things relaxed and engaging.
Hotel Reservations
We've gone the extra mile to secure exclusive discounted rates for the Leaders’ gathering attendees.
Snag your room at The Intercontinental Hotel, 1 Hamilton Place, London, W1J 7QY by clicking here. Remember, these discounted room rates are available on a first-come, first-served basis, so act fast to ensure your luxurious stay. The Intercontinental Hotel offers the best-discounted rate available, less than the prevailing rate, at the time the reservation is made.
Alternatively, if The Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews, London, W1D3DH, suits your fancy, click here to secure your discounted room. The Soho Hotel, offer a 15% discount off the Best Available Rate and complimentary breakfast. You can make your reservations directly with the reservations team at reservations@sohohotel.com or by calling 020 7546 1011 and quoting ‘VOICES24’. The cancellation policy requires any changes to be made by 12 noon 7 days before the scheduled arrival date.
This offer will be valid until September 1, 2024, subject to room availability.
Transportation
We've got you covered when it comes to getting around town.
For The Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews, London, W1D3DH:
- Click here for directions.
- Conveniently located just a three-minute walk from the Dean Street Exit of Tottenham Court Road Tube Station. Easy access awaits!
- On-street parking is available, and if you prefer a nearby car park, look no further than Q Park, Poland Street, London W1F 7NQ. Find more information here.
For Aspinal of London: 16 Regent Street Saint James's, London SW1Y 4PH
- Click here to find your way.
- Just a pleasant ten-minute walk from St. James's Park, indulging in the elegance of Aspinal of London has never been more convenient.
On-street parking is available, and if you're in need of a nearby car park, Care Park - Grosvenor Hill Car Park at 21 Grosvenor Hill, London W1K 3QQ, is the ideal choice. Discover more details here.
Open ‘WOW!' Close
Thank you for your participation in Rarely Heard Voices, London 2024.
Your point of contact for all queries is Devyani Dayal devyani.dayal@rarelyheardvoices.com
Your investment of valuable management time, and willingness to travel on your nickel, like many other leaders before you, is greatly appreciated.
Be assured, we take nothing for granted!
Images of your view and the audience’s view can be seen below.
Information
- Rarely Heard Voices, London is held under the trust enjoyed within our community, supported by Chatham House Rules.
- There are no journalists present.
- We do not record presentations.
- The final running order will be published on Friday, September 20th.
- All speakers are treated equally; we do not have a keynote speaker, nor do we have any ‘pay to play’ sponsor-led speakers controlling the agenda.
- A countdown clock will be in full sight of all speakers.
- Please email devyani.dayal@rarelyheardvoices.com to confirm the following:
- Speak from the lectern, using a static microphone.
- Speak from the lectern, using a lapel microphone, in case you wish to move around.
- Speak from the lectern, then also be interviewed as part of a moderated Q&A.
- Be interviewed only as a moderated Q&A.
- Whether you have a preferred time to speak if you have not already told Brendan what your preference is?
- Last but not least, send me your presentation by Thursday, September 19th 2024.
(Please note that all videos need to be in a MP4 format and if you have any company fonts then please send these as well)
Programme timings:
Tuesday, September 24th: 8.00 AM - 5.00 PM
Conference at The Soho Hotel, 4 Richmond Mews, London, W1D 3DH.
- Breakfast 8.00 AM - 8.45 AM
- The first presentation commences at 8.45 AM, and the final presentation commences at 4.15 PM.
- Lunch is served at 1.15 PM – 2.00 PM.
- The running order will be published on Friday, September 20th 2024.
Essential contact details:
- Email me by return with any questions you have.
- Tuesday’s on-the-day contact is Lisa Shapiro via cell or WhatsApp on +44 7745 111190
Stephen Owen
International Director and Strategic Partnership
Next Plc
United Kingdom
Jeff Streader
Founder and Managing Director
Go Global Retail
USA
Iris Chan
Partner, Head of International Client Development
Digital Luxury Group (DLG)
United States
Jacov Nachtailer
Founder
Smartech
UK
Adam Black
Director
Button & Sprung
United Kingdom
Jill Butterworth
Partner
Rarely Heard Voices
United Kingdom
Gopal Asthana
Chief Business Officer
Nykaa Fashion
India
Frank Eribo
Co-Founder
Lociwear
Stuart Ford
President & Chief Operating Officer
Dropit
United Kingdom
Jo Newton
Director of Buying : Hampers, Fashion, Beauty and Home
Fortnum and Mason
United Kingdom
Mo Beig
President, Chief Financial Officer
Janie and Jack
Adam Beaumont-Brown
Founder
Orlebar Brown
United Kingdom
George McNeil
Managing Director, Retail Division
Johnsons of Elgin
United Kingdom
Ally Krieger
Director of Client Partnerships
Newmark
USA
Heidi Packer
USA
Philippa Dempster
Senior Partner and Managing Partner
Freeths
United Kingdom
Claudia Lima-Guinehut
Senior Vice President, Global Merchandising & Strategic Partnerships
The Children's Place
USA
Gwynn Milligan
Chief Executive Officer
JoJo Maman Bébé
United Kingdom
Susan Reid
Retail Director
Debenhams Plc
UK
Jacques Vergnaud
Brand General Manager
Les Deux Magots
France
Nathalie Delin
France
Karen Cummings-Palmer
Founder
79 LUXE Body care
Erwin Reid
Senior Vice President, International Restaurant Development
Chick-fil-A
USA
Moses Rashid
Chief Executive Officer & Founder of The Edit LDN - a Global Omnichannel Marketplace for Sneakers, Streetwear & Luxury.
The Edit Ldn
Catherine Mathivat
President
Les Deux Magots
France
Jonathan Yuska
U.S President
Culture Kings
USA
Lindsay Lopez
Senior Vice President Head of US office
El Puerto de Liverpool
USA
Carine Pin
Head of Business Development
Bluebell Group
Hong Kong
Lisa Shapiro
United Kingdom
Jody Plows
Chief Executive Officer
Nobody's Child
United Kingdom
Trish Kozlak
Head of Retail Expansion
Heyday
USA
Hans Kristian
Owner
Joutenfjell
Caroline Rush
Chief Executive Officer
British Fashion Council
United Kingdom
Karla Gallardo
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Cuyana
USA
Julia Lettner
Commercial Director
Margaret Dabbs London
Lauren Brindley
Group Vice President /GMM – Beauty & Personal Care
Walgreen Co
USA
Jade Taylor
Director of NEXT Label and SEASONS
Next Plc
Amalia Sierra
Founder
Maaji
Raishma Islam
Owner/Designer
Raishma.co.uk
United Kingdom
Fabio Barreto
CEO FARM Rio Global (NA and EMEA)
Grupo SOMA
UK
Yehuda Schmidman
Chairman & Chief Executive Officer
WHP Global
Katie Cavanagh
Retail/ Fashion Chief Financial Officer
United Kingdom
Bella Newton
Assistant Buyer - Menswear Contemporary Designer
Harrods
United Kingdom
Claudia Child
Financial Controller
Aspinal of London Limited
United Kingdom
Lily Chen
Vice President, Head of Global Brands
Shein Group
Mark Loynd
Executive Director, General Counsel, Group HR Director and Head of Overseas Market Development
Giordano International Limited
Manuela Sierra
Co-Owner
Maaji
Colombia
Ella Gould
Head of Circularity and Innovation
Selfridges
United Kingdom
Aileen Shanley
CEO
Shanleyinteriors
Laura Brown
Chief Executive Officer
Emaar
United Arab Emirates
Fiona Lambert
Expert, Buying and Merchandising
UK
Fahed Ghanim
Chief Executive Officer
Majid Al Futtaim Fashion LLC
United Arab Emirates
Duncan Tennent
Director of Strategic Partnerships
Seasalt
United Kingdom
Margaret Dabbs
Founder
Margaret Dabbs London
United Kingdom
Anna Pfefferle
VP of Supply Chain
Bitchin' Sauce
United States
Sabah Naqushband
Managing Director - The Outnet
YOOX NET-A-PORTER
United Kingdom
Myleene Klass
Musician Broadcaster Designer & Model Sunday Times Best Seller Educator & Philanthropist Content Creator Trend Setter
The Mutha Ship
Kasia Gaborec-McEvoy
Founding Director
My Name is Ted
Laura Ciel
Chief Executive Officer & Co-Founder
9Q Solution
United States
Ali Shareif
Chief Executive Officer
Al Othaim Life Co.
Saudi Arabia
Jackie Cooper
Global Chief Brand Officer & Senior Advisor
Edelman
United Kingdom
Jose Gomez
Chief Development Officer
ETAM Groupe
France
Ray Kelvin
Owner
Sealskinz
John Lyttle
Group Chief Executive Officer
Boohoo Plc
UK
Jane Boardman
Chief Executive Officer
M&C Saatchi Talk
United Kingdom
Matthew Primack
Senior Vice President
Fanatics, Inc.
United Kingdom
Sharon Price John
President and Chief Executive Officer
Build-A-Bear Workshop
Fraser Brown
Retail Director
Heathrow Airport
United Kingdom
Phil Mickler
Chief Operating Officer
ME+EM Ltd
Amanda Raposo
Chief Experience Officer
Camp
United States
Iain Burton
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Aspinal of London
UK
Marigay McKee
Co-Founder
Fernbrook Capital Management LLC
USA
Emmanuel Eribo
Co-Founder
Lociwear
Johan Jervoe
Global strategy
Bicester Village
Jeremy Saul
Managing Director Licensing & Strategic Partnerships
Skechers
Mariya Dykalo Burton
Creative Director
Aspinal of London
United Kingdom
Amanda Edelman
Chief Operating Officer
Edelman
USA
Alexis Cepeda Maule
Managing Director of UK & Europe
Reformation
United Kingdom
Dan Finley
Chief Executive Officer
Debenhams
Marie Grove (Walton)
Founder & Managing Director
Grove Communication
United Kingdom
Jenica Myszkowski
Chief Executive Officer & President
Camp
United States
Natasha Sutton
Business Clinic Projects Officer
Liverpool John Moores University
United Kingdom
Ciaran Long
Chief Financial Officer
AKA Brands
USA
Kate Halley
Merchandising & B2B Director
Jo Jo Mamam Bebe
United Kingdom
Selvane Mohandas
Managing Director
International Association of Department Stores - IADS
Mark Aldridge
Former Marketing Director
Signet
UK
Scott Mendelson
USA
Daniel Pickering-Fletcher
Head of Retail and Client Services
Orlebar Brown
Irving Tajfel
President & Founder
NEON Corp.
Canada
David Blakeney
UK
Brent Cashell
Vice President, Store Development and Design EMEA Region
Starbucks
United Kingdom
Chris Chen
Group Licensing Director
The Hut Group
United Kingdom
Thandwie Sheppard
Leasing Executive
Hammerson
United Kingdom
Darren Kane
Managing Director
Aspinal of London
UK
Clare Forbes
Director of Technology
Fortnum and Mason
United Kingdom
Rosie McKissock
Global Kids & Accessories Director
Clarks
United Kingdom
David Wilkinson
Executive Director
Steen & Strøm
Norway
Rob Feldmann
CEO
Brandalley
United Kingdom
Danny Pippin
Chief Operating Officer
Couture Technologies
Maria Hollins
Joint Managing Director
Ann Summers
United Kingdom
Angela Farrugia
Founder
Brand X Society
United Kingdom
Camilla Deichmann
Head of Ventures
Magasin du Nord
Denmark
Virginia Hilfiger
Chief Branding Officer and Executive Director
MGOL Global
USA
JJ Jenkins
Retail Graduate
Marks and Spencer
United Kingdom
Joel Teitelbaum
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
iStore
Canada
Aine Kennedy
Account Executive
Enterprise Ireland
USA
Liz Heller
Managing Partner
Membrain LLC
USA
Uri Reiss
Chief Executive Officer
911 Fashion
Israel
Jo Jenkins
Chief Executive Officer
White Stuff
United Kingdom
Aparna Galiasso
Head, Americas Retail & Consumer Goods GTM
Amazon
USA
Here are examples of illustrious speakers from across our industry and around the world, whom we have welcomed to Rarely Heard Voices.
| Adam Fenwick | Executive Director | Fenwick | UK |
| Adam Goldston | Co-Founder | Athletic Propulsion Labs | USA |
| Adwaita Nayyar | Co-Founder and CEO | Nykaa | India |
| Amalia Sierra | Co-Founder | Maaji | COLOMBIA |
| Ann Marie Scichili | Co-founder | Value Retail Plc | USA |
| Brian Duffy | Chief Executive Officer | Watches of Switzerland Group Plc | UK |
| Chris Blakeslee | President | Athleta | USA |
| Dan Harris | Founder | Bella + Canvas | USA |
| Doug Tiffan | Head of World-Wide Solution Strategy for Apparel & Fashion at AWS | AWS | USA |
| Fatma Ghaly | Chief Executive Officer | Azza Fahmy | EGYPT |
| Fawaz Alhokair | Founder Chairman | CENOMI | SAUDI ARABIA |
| Francine Li | Chief Marketing Officer | IPSY | USA |
| Franklin Loufrani | Founder | The Smiley Company | FRANCE |
| Jamie Salter | Chairman and Chief Executive Officer | Authentic Brands Group | USA |
| Joe Mimran | Chairman, | Gibraltar & Co | CANADA |
| Johan Jervøe | Global Chief Communication & Brand Officer | Value Retail | Switzerland |
| John Rigas | Chairman | Asprey of London | USA |
| Kareem Gahed | Chief Executive Office | John Hardy | USA |
| Lord Wolfson | CEO | Next Plc | UK |
| Lucy Aylen | Founder & Chief Executive Officer | Never Fully Dressed | UK |
| Norman Jaskolka | President, Deputy Chairman | Aldo Group | CANADA |
| Oliver Chen | Managing Director and senior equity research analyst | TD Cowen | USA |
| Olivier Schaeffer | Global Chief Operating Officer | Printemps | FRANCE |
| Renuka Jagtiani | Chairwoman and Chief Executive Officer | Landmark Group | UAE |
| Solomon Lew | Chairman | Premier Investments | AUSTRALIA |
| Tina Sharkey | Entrepreneur-In-Residence | USC's Iovine & Young Academy | USA |
| VP Sharma | Chief Executive Officer | MAP | INDONESIA |
Ali Shareif
Chief Executive Officer
Al Othaim Life Co.
Saudi Arabia
Philippa Dempster
Senior Partner and Managing Partner
Freeths
United Kingdom
Uri Reiss
Chief Executive Officer
911 Fashion
Israel
Scott Malkin
Chairman of Value Retail
Value Retail
Ray Kelvin
Owner
Sealskinz
Amanda Raposo
Chief Experience Officer
Camp
United States
Jeff Streader
Founder and Managing Director
Go Global Retail
USA
Jo Newton
Director of Buying : Hampers, Fashion, Beauty and Home
Fortnum and Mason
United Kingdom
Marigay McKee
Co-Founder
Fernbrook Capital Management LLC
USA
Amanda Edelman
Chief Operating Officer
Edelman
USA
Virginia Hilfiger
Chief Branding Officer and Executive Director
MGOL Global
USA
Jackie Cooper
Global Chief Brand Officer & Senior Advisor
Edelman
United Kingdom
Lily Chen
Vice President, Head of Global Brands
Shein Group
Danny Pippin
Chief Operating Officer
Couture Technologies
Claudia Lima-Guinehut
Senior Vice President, Global Merchandising & Strategic Partnerships
The Children's Place
USA
Aparna Galiasso
Head, Americas Retail & Consumer Goods GTM
Amazon
USA
Adam Beaumont-Brown
Founder
Orlebar Brown
United Kingdom
Stuart Ford
President & Chief Operating Officer
Dropit
United Kingdom
Myleene Klass
Musician Broadcaster Designer & Model Sunday Times Best Seller Educator & Philanthropist Content Creator Trend Setter
The Mutha Ship
Fraser Brown
Retail Director
Heathrow Airport
United Kingdom
Liz Heller
Managing Partner
Membrain LLC
USA
Mo Beig
President, Chief Financial Officer
Janie and Jack
Lauren Brindley
Group Vice President /GMM – Beauty & Personal Care
Walgreen Co
USA
Susan Reid
Retail Director
Debenhams Plc
UK
Trish Kozlak
Head of Retail Expansion
Heyday
USA
Ciaran Long
Chief Financial Officer
AKA Brands
USA
Joel Teitelbaum
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
iStore
Canada
WE’RE FAMOUS FOR WHAT WE DON’T DO
Pay speaker fees:
At Rarely Heard Voices, we believe that the most valuable insights come from those who are truly passionate about their work, not just those who are paid to talk about it. That’s why we don’t pay our speakers - we want to ensure that they are driven by a genuine desire to share their knowledge and ideas with their peer group.
Use funny handshakes:
You won’t find any secret society-style handshakes at Rarely Heard Voices! We believe in being open and inclusive with everyone who attends our gathering, regardless of their background or affiliation. Our focus is on fostering genuine connections and creating a community of like-minded individuals who are passionate about retail, not on creating some sort of exclusive club with secret rituals.
Have name badges:
Who needs a name badge when you’re among friends? At our gathering, we believe in creating an informal and relaxed atmosphere where attendees can connect with one another on a personal level, without worrying about formalities like name tags.
Do social media:
We like to think of our gathering as a digital detox for the modern age. By eschewing social media, we encourage our attendees to focus on connecting with one another in person, rather than getting lost in the endless scroll of the online world.
Have drive-by speakers:
At Rarely Heard Voices, we believe that the best way to learn is through deep and meaningful conversations with those who truly understand their subject matter. That’s why we don’t have “drive-by” speakers who just drop in for a quick talk - we prioritize in-depth discussions that allow for real learning and growth.
Invite members of the press, or pushy enterprise sales executives:
Our gathering is all about fostering genuine connections between like-minded individuals, without any outside distractions or agendas. By keeping members of the press and pushy sales executives at bay, we’re able to create an environment that’s truly focused on learning, sharing, and growth.
Ask guests to register:
Who needs another registration form in their life? At our gathering, we keep things simple by not requiring attendees to register in advance. This frees up more time for meaningful conversations and connections and ensures that everyone who attends is truly invested in being there.
Charge:
That’s right, our gathering is completely free of charge. We believe that knowledge and ideas should be freely accessible to all. By not charging for our event, we’re able to create a more inclusive and welcoming atmosphere that benefits everyone who attends. This, is, the invitation that money can’t buy!
Have a keynote address:
At Rarely Heard Voices, we believe that every attendee has something valuable to share. That’s why we don’t have a traditional keynote address - instead, we prioritise conversation and dialogue, with everyone in attendance contributing their own unique perspective and expertise.
Feature main-stage sponsors:
Our gathering is about authenticity and independence, so we don’t all pay-to-play. We believe that true insights and ideas should come from a place of honesty and transparency, rather than being influenced by outside interests. By keeping our stage sponsor-free, we’re able to maintain a sense of integrity that sets us apart from traditional conferences.
