One of the world's top 50 thinkers launches Channels 2005

During Channels 2005, which will be held at the JW Marriot Hotel in Dubai between 6-9 February, an unrivalled line-up of over 70 senior bankers and financiers from leading regional and international financial institutions will address a range of key banking and finance issues during the four day event which includes two conferences, interactive workshops and an exhibition.

Don Peppers who was in Dubai to host the Guru Summit Day, is an acclaimed author whose vision, perspective and thoughtful analysis of global business practices has earned him some significant citations by internationally recognised entities. The United Kingdom's premier marketing organisation, the Chartered Institute for Marketing, cited Don among their 50 "most influential thinkers in marketing and business today." He has been ranked by Accenture's Institute for Strategic Change among the global "Top 100 Business Intellectuals" for two years running. Business 2.0 Magazine has named him one of the "foremost business gurus of our times."

Don's expertise and clear concise way of thinking places him in high demand, as both a speaker and a management advisor, with Fortune 500 executives and entrepreneurs seeking to identify their most valuable customers, increase customer satisfaction, and improve ROI. He is a popular voice among editors and the media, both online and in print, and is the co-author, with Martha Rogers, Ph.D., of a series of international best sellers that have collectively sold over a million copies in 14 languages.

Guru Summit day presentations were also conducted by David Amdal who is International Director for the UK-based Shaping Tomorrow, and Director for the Asia Pacific region on the think-tank Center for Smart Energy. Amdal, who has over 25 years' experience in market entry strategies and whose clients include Westpac Banking Group, Citibank, Chase Manhattan, National Australian Bank and Commonwealth Bank of Australia, as well as securities and advisory firms, addressed 'Overcoming The Financial Services Marketing Challenges'.

The second keynote address was made by Stephen Coulter, Principal of Emerging Thought. Coulter, who has held a number of senior executive roles over the last 20 years, presented his case for 'Putting The Customer First - The Secret To Successful Revenue Growth'.

Bo Harald, Executive Vice President of Nordea Bank AB, Finland, discussed the specific approaches and strategies Middle East banks must adopt in order to be part of the winning solution to meet customer needs as part of his paper on 'Reshaping The Banking Industry'.

On 7th February, representing Visa CEMEA, Channels 2005 headline sponsor, the President Anne Cobb will share insights into the growth of electronic payment channels and how they can directly contribute to economic growth.

The two-day Strategy @ Channels conference, held on February 7th and 8th 2005, will follow three general streams: Regulatory and Compliance Challenges, Sustainable Growth and Customer Centricity and Marketing, providing delegates with in-depth exploration of a stunning range of critical subjects from risk management and preventing fraud to multi-channel integration and Islamic Finance. These two main conference days will provide delegates with in-depth exploration of retail banking and its regulatory challenges, relationship management, bancassurance and driving measurable results among many other areas of interest.

The two-day Technology @ Channels conference, held on February 7th and 8th 2005, will create a suitable forum for the exchange of ideas between IT professionals in the financial services industry and technology leaders on how new and emerging technologies are redefining the delivery of financial services and impacting their competitiveness. It will focus on the latest technology trends, strategies and best practice and will feature presentations from international and local experts and practitioners from the world of banking, finance, and IT.

The final day of Channels 2005, February 9th, 2005, will be devoted to specialist workshops - a series of practical interactive seminars covering an intriguing variety of concerns for strategic and technology banking professionals.