AI In Retail: TRANSFORMING THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCE

This exclusive workshop explores three of the key pillars of SRF 2024—Consumer, Technology, and Experiences—showcasing how AI drives personalization, streamlines operations and transforms retail. Explore actionable strategies and beyond to shape the future of your business.

CONTRIBUTOR
Rupam Bhattacharjee, Co-Founder and CEO, WAYSAHEAD GLOBAL

A dynamic Townhall delving into the six pillars paving the way for the future of retail- PEOPLE, EXPERIENCES, VALUES, INNOVATIONS, CONSUMERS and TECHNOLOGY. Contributors will discuss and share ideas and best practices, each a drop in the jar of endless retail wisdom. Captured in a film named ‘Retail Ideas Worth Spreading,’. This film becomes a reservoir of knowledge for the entire retail fraternity.

CONTRIBUTORS:
Leading The Discussion
Hassan Tamimi, Chief Executive Officer, The Little Things
Maher Deraz, CEO, Beauty Lines Medical

Contributing Voices
Pamela Opie, Chief Executive Officer, Linen Obsession
Zeyad Saadeh, Group Vice President, FBH Group
Khaled Al Darwish, CEO / Co-Founder / Board Member, Manuel Supermarket
Aamir Allibhoy, Chief Marketing Officer, Tim Hortons Middle East
Dr. Ankur Narang, AVP – Data Science, Apparel Group
Rupam Bhattacharjee, Co-Founder and CEO, WaysAhead Global
Girish Daryani, Director, Vansh International LLC
Motaz Abuonq, Founder & Business Leader, Shams Pharmacies
Dr. Sabry Abuldahab, VP & Egypt CEO, Al – Duliman Group
Mohammed Aljabri, Country Retail Operations Manager, Eyewa

Anurima Das, Executive Editor
&
Bianca Noronha, Conference Producer  Team IMAGES RetailME

An Insightful Keynote on State of AI in Retail

CONTRIBUTOR
ANUSH VISWANATHAN, AI Institute Leader, Deloitte

CONTRIBUTOR
Prince Waleed N. F AlSaud, Founder and CEO, Mukatafa Consulting Company,

Together, we try to understand the evolving consumer, adding a vital drop to our collective jar of insights as we navigate cultural dynamics, social responsibility and the aspirations of youth.

CONTRIBUTORS
Prince Waleed N. F AlSaud,  Founder and CEO, Mukatafa Consulting Company
Andy Holmes President, Starbucks, Alshaya Group
Jorge Gaston Garcia, General Manager KSA, Brands For Less Group
Miles Young, Managing Director, Al Hala Trading (Aura Living and Leem)
Dr. Tamim Al-Ghannam, CEO, Reefi
Nabila Nezar, Owner, Nabila Nazer Establishment
Neeraj Teckchandani, Group CEO, Apparel Group Sadique Ahmed CEO, RetailGPT

Moderator –
Joerg Meiser, Partner, ME Consumer & Retail Strategy Lead, Deloitte

Exploring the power of people in retail, we add a crucial drop to our endless jar of retail wisdom—showcasing how investing in talent ignites innovation, fuels purpose, and connects every thread of the retail tapestry.

CONTRIBUTORS
Yara Baghdad, Director – Retail Learning, Chalhoub Group (Chalhoub Retail Academies)
Yasmine Alshathry, Founder, CLÉ
Zuhair I Almaghrabi, Chief Human Capital Officer, Panda Retail Company
Ibrahim Salah Elsharkawy, Training and Development Manager and GM Arabian Academy, Arabian Oud

Moderator –
Dr. Martyn Davies, Retail Sector Leader and Head of City Excellence Division, Royal Commission for Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

We delve into the role of talent in retail, adding a crucial drop to our endless reservoir of insights—exploring how diverse, tech-enabled teams shape today’s solutions and craft tomorrow’s retail experiences.

CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Mohammed Fitaihi, CEO & Founder, Baby Fitaihi
Shareef Hendricks, Head of Retail/Brand Director, M.A. AL ABDUL KARIM & CO
Ankur Shiv Bhandari, Managing Director, The Asbiverse Group
Dr. Bahjat Yousfi, VP Sales Operations, Abdul Samad Al Qurashi group
Ali Al Shareif, CEO, Al Othaim Life Co
Hend AlDhaban, Executive Director, Cenomi Academy

Moderator-
May Kanounji, CEO, Blooming

CONTRIBUTORS
Rachid Labrik, Vice President, Slimstock
Mazen Massalkhi, Chief Supply Chain officer, Arabian Oud

CONTRIBUTORS
Tawhid Abdulla, Founder and CEO, Jawhara Jewellery
Mohammed Abdullah Alshahrani, BytePlus

We discuss the fusion of retail and entertainment, adding a vital drop to our endless jar of insights—exploring how dynamic spaces captivate consumers and redefine engagement in ever-evolving ways.

CONTRIBUTORS
Mohamed Attia, CEO, Al Othaim Entertainment Co.
Fadi Serhal, Country Business Director, One Pm Franchising (PRET A MANGER)
Mohammad Alawi, Chairman of the Board, Azad Properties
Osamah Alawwam, Co-Founder, Roasting House
Dr. Kamran Khan, Chief Executive Officer, Tarfeeh (Applebee’s || IHOP || Ocean Basket)
Jeff Kellen, President Hospitality, Alshaya Group
Bruno Bellaiche, F&B Solution Package General Manager, Glory Group
Eng. Faisal bin Abdulrahman Al-Nasser, CEO, Alandalus Property

Moderator-
Aamir Allibhoy, Chief Marketing Officer, Tim Hortons Middle East

Together, we reimagine retail spaces, adding a drop to our endless jar of insights—blending innovation, entertainment, and engagement to create experiences that captivate and connect.

CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Hisham Qasim, Chief Commercial Officer, Toys R US
Sanjeev Sharma, CEO, United Homeware Company – NICE
Tamara Abukhadra, Founder and Managing Director, Homegrown Market
Eng. Karam Rajab, CEO and Co-founder, Baytonia
Muzon Ashgar, Founder, General Manager, MZN Bodycare
Ananth Kishore, Head of Sales GCC Market, Netcore Cloud

Moderator –
AbdulMouhsen Almadani, Director, Commerce and Marketing, Consumer & Retail, Deloitte

CONTRIBUTORS
Dr. Ankur Narang, AVP – Data Science, Apparel Group
Rupam Bhattacharjee, Co-Founder and CEO, WaysAhead Global

we explore how technology transforms retail—adding a drop to our jar of insights on balancing innovation with human connection, modernizing systems, and enhancing both customer experiences and operational efficiencies for the digital age.

CONTRIBUTORS
Sédat Firat, Chief Digital Officer, Flormar
Roberts Bendins, Head of Hyper & Marketplace, Nana
Doaa Gawish, CEO & Founder, The Hair Addict
Murat Ungun, CEO, KUDU Company for food and catering
Rami Younes, General Manager, Swisslog Middle East
Mohamed Hussien, Marketing Director, United Electronics Co ‑ EXTRA
Kamal Marghlani, VP Revenue, Foodics

Moderator –
Ahmad Refaat, Solutions Architect Leader for Middle East & Central Asia, Zebra Technologies

An Insightful Keynote:
From Challenges to Solutions: Pioneering the Future of Retail in Saudi Arabia

CONTRIBUTOR
Rui Saraiva, VP Sales EMEA South and MENAT, Relex

We add vital drops to our shared jar of insights, reimagining retail through purpose-driven profits—blending authenticity, sustainability, and trust to create value that resonates with consumers and ensures lasting success for all stakeholders.

CONTRIBUTORS
Waleed Bin Dawood, Chief Commercial Officer, BinDawood Holding
Sukainah Alzaid, Commercial Director, Cenomi Retail
Khaled Al Darwish, CEO / Co-Founder / Board Member, Manuel Supermarket

Moderator-
Zeynep Sarsar, Associate Director – Retail, CBRE MENA

CONTRIBUTOR
Haris Naeem, Senior Account Executive, Braze

We add vital drops to our reservoir by exploring how Saudi retailers merge tradition with innovation, crafting offerings that honor cultural values while embracing forward-thinking success.

CONTRIBUTORS
Joseph David Leftwich, Head of Business Development, Card Factory PLC
Ahmedullah Abdul Hadi, Chief Operating Officer, Giordano
Younis Skainy, Chief Operating Officer, Aljazera Markets Co.
Dinesh Maurya, Director Operations KSA, GMG
John Foy, Operations Director, Kun Sports
Stuart Henwood, Regional General Manager Middle East, Africa & India, New Balance
Mustafa Khanwala, Founder and CEO, MishiPay Ltd.
Scott Pryde, Principal and Middle East Mixed-Use Director, DLR Group
Roman Poludnev, Sales Director, Honeywell

Moderator –
Ghadi Ali, Entrepreneur, Advisor, Independent entrepreneur/ Top 50 Global Inspirational Women

CONTRIBUTOR
Warris Ansari, Chief Executive Officer, Muhimma Digital Platform Co.

Each leader has a story. A journey of triumphs and challenges. SOLOx speakers share these stories of change. A chance to learn and be inspired.

CONTRIBUTOR
Majed M. Al Tahan, Founder & CEO, IACO Co-Founder and CEO, Danube Online

CONTRIBUTOR
Eng. Mishaal Mohammad Almaimani, Senior Manager Development, The Point

CONTRIBUTOR
May Kanounji, CEO, Blooming

CONTRIBUTOR
Hesham Almekkawi, Chief Executive Officer, Tim Hortons – Middle East

CONTRIBUTOR
Debashish Mukherjee, Partner and Regional Lead, Consumer and Retail, Middle East & Africa, Kearney